Diversity and ecology of wood-inhabiting aphyllophoroid basidiomycetes on fallen woody debris in various forest types in Switzerland

Abstract

This study on the ecology of aphyllophoroid wood-inhabiting basidiomycetes in Switzerland showed a remarkably high species diversity of both saprophytes and mycorrhiza-forming species. Phlebiella vaga, a saprophytic species, and Amphinema byssoides, a mycorrhizal symbiont, were the two most abundant species. A total of 3339 samples of fungal fruitbodies in 86 plots distributed all over Switzerland belonged to 238 species. The five main biogeographical regions of Switzerland showed different pattern of fungal species richness: while the Plateau at lower altitudes was found to be rather rich, the Northern Alps and Central Alps, with the highest amount of forests cover, yielded less species. Although the Southern Alps exhibited the lowest species richness, this region harbours a specific species set. These findings encourage for further studies in Central Europe, where many species of aphyllophoroid wood-inhabiting basidiomycetes seem to be highly under-investigated.

The diversity of wood-decaying fungi in relation to changing site conditions in an old-growth mountain spruce forest, Central Europe

“…If we count the species found in each of the decay stages, intermediate stage harbours the highest number. This pattern is opposite to the results of Küffer and Senn-Irlet (2005b), where the wood of all sizes was included. Fine and very fine woody debris in temperate broadleaf forests is important for the diversity of Ascomycetes, 75% of species were found there; and 30% of Basidiomycetes were also found exclusively on fine wood (Nordén et al 2004).…”

“…This was caused by the increase in the amount of dead wood at higher elevations with the distance from villages (Heilmann-Clausen and Christensen 2009). The species richness of aphyllophoroid fungi was slightly poorer at higher elevations of Switzerland; some forests at high elevations harboured a rather high species richness, which may partly be explained by the low management pressure at higher elevations (Küffer and Senn-Irlet 2005b), but this can be further confounded by differences in the distribution of tree species. The species composition of fungi relies on tree species (e.g.…”

Drivers of CO2 Emission Rates from Dead Wood Logs of 13 Tree Species in the Initial Decomposition Phase

“…This was caused by the hidden correlation between fungal species richness and tree species. Fungal species richness is known to be a function of dead wood tree species identity [21,53] and successional stage [54,55]. In our study, tree species with high fungal species richness also tended to have higher CO2 emission rates (Figure 4).…”

Stand structure and deadwood amount influences saproxylic fungal biodiversity in Mediterranean mountain unmanaged forests

“…Many researchers have studied the effect of forest management on saproxylic fungal communities, focusing on the effect of necromass reduction. The results of these studies converge to indicate that saproxylic fungal biodiversity decreases in managed forests with impacts over the community composition (Küffer & Senn-Irlet 2005b, Junninen et al 2006, Mül-ler et al 2007, Bassler et al 2012, Abrego & Salcedo 2013. The amount and quality of deadwood, as well as the size and type of woody debris (in particular logs), and also the species, age and size of trees are structural attributes of forests that influence the saproxylic fungal community and its species richness (Nordén & Paltto 2001, Heilmann-Clausen & Christensen 2003, Odor et al 2001, Junninen & Komonen 2011, Lassauce et al 2011.…”