Effectiveness of green-tree retention in the conservation of ectomycorrhizal fungi

Kranabetter, J. M.; Montigny, Louise de; Ross, G. J. B.

doi:10.1016/j.funeco.2013.05.001

Cited by 29 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 46 publications

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“…A possible cause could be the lack of AM propagules (e.g., Fisher & Fulé, 2004) that could support growth of a range of herbaceous understory plants (e.g., van der Heijden, 2004). Contrary to ECM systems (e.g., Kranabetter, de Montigny, & Ross, 2014), there are no studies on the threshold at which relative abundance of AM plants severely limits AM fungal propagule availability, and in our study it appears to be quite low (4.3%).…”

Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 58%

Facilitation between woody and herbaceous plants that associate with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in temperate European forests

Veresoglou

Wulf

Rillig

2017

Ecology and Evolution

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In late‐successional environments, low in available nutrient such as the forest understory, herbaceous plant individuals depend strongly on their mycorrhizal associates for survival. We tested whether in temperate European forests arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) woody plants might facilitate the establishment of AM herbaceous plants in agreement with the mycorrhizal mediation hypothesis. We used a dataset spanning over 400 vegetation plots in the Weser‐Elbe region (northwest Germany). Mycorrhizal status information was obtained from published resources, and Ellenberg indicator values were used to infer environmental data. We carried out tests for both relative richness and relative abundance of herbaceous plants. We found that the subset of herbaceous individuals that associated with AM profited when there was a high cover of AM woody plants. These relationships were retained when we accounted for environmental filtering effects using path analysis. Our findings build on the existing literature highlighting the prominent role of mycorrhiza as a coexistence mechanism in plant communities. From a nature conservation point of view, it may be possible to promote functional diversity in the forest understory through introducing AM woody trees in stands when absent.

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Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 58%

Facilitation between woody and herbaceous plants that associate with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in temperate European forests

Veresoglou

Wulf

Rillig

2017

Ecology and Evolution

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“…There was some indication that ectomycorrhizal species commonly associated with early and even late stages of stand development (Russula, Tomentella, and Inocybe) were more common under AR and in UC stands, whereas the disturbanceadapted fungi R. vinicolor and L. bicolor were more common under DR and in CC sites. Isolation of ectomycorrhizal hosts in DR may be responsible for this trend; ectomycorrhizal richness declines as host areal extent is reduced (9,31). Aggregate retention patches may provide better refuge for fungi that are poor dispersers and are, therefore, more sensitive to host isolation caused by DR.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This has been demonstrated in other substrates for decay rates (5) and carbon sequestration (6). Disturbance, such as forest harvesting, eliminates the flow of photosynthate used for growth by ectomycorrhizal fungi, dramatically shifting the below-ground fungal community toward saprotrophic dominance (7)(8)(9), potentially resulting in ecosystem-level increases in soil respiration and nitrogen mineralization due to ectomycorrhizal exclusion (10). Despite root litter being the dominant belowground carbon source, the fungal community decomposing this substrate remains largely uncharacterized, and the response of these communities to forest harvesting is unknown.…”

mentioning

confidence: 95%

“…Retention patches may serve as a source of inocula for ectomycorrhizae in regenerating stands, though evidence indicates that their influence shortly after harvest does not extend beyond 10 m (14,15). Kranabetter et al found comparable levels of total ectomycorrhizal diversity in retention patches relative to intact forests 10 years after harvest (9). However, it is not clear whether VRH helps maintain ectomycorrhizal populations (via spore dispersal or direct root contact) through stand development and after a rotation.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Limited Effects of Variable-Retention Harvesting on Fungal Communities Decomposing Fine Roots in Coastal Temperate Rainforests

Philpott

Barker

Prescott

et al. 2018

Appl Environ Microbiol

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Fine root litter is the principal source of carbon stored in forest soils and a dominant source of carbon for fungal decomposers. Differences in decomposer capacity between fungal species may be important determinants of fine-root decomposition rates. Variable-retention harvesting (VRH) provides refuge for ectomycorrhizal fungi, but its influence on fine-root decomposers is unknown, as are the effects of functional shifts in these fungal communities on carbon cycling. We compared fungal communities decomposing fine roots (in litter bags) under VRH, clear-cut, and uncut stands at two sites (6 and 13 years postharvest) and two decay stages (43 days and 1 year after burial) in Douglas fir forests in coastal British Columbia, Canada. Fungal species and guilds were identified from decomposed fine roots using high-throughput sequencing. Variable retention had short-term effects on β-diversity; harvest treatment modified the fungal community composition at the 6-year-postharvest site, but not at the 13-year-postharvest site. Ericoid and ectomycorrhizal guilds were not more abundant under VRH, but stand age significantly structured species composition. Guild composition varied by decay stage, with ruderal species later replaced by saprotrophs and ectomycorrhizae. Ectomycorrhizal abundance on decomposing fine roots may partially explain why fine roots typically decompose more slowly than surface litter. Our results indicate that stand age structures fine-root decomposers but that decay stage is more important in structuring the fungal community than shifts caused by harvesting. The rapid postharvest recovery of fungal communities decomposing fine roots suggests resiliency within this community, at least in these young regenerating stands in coastal British Columbia. Globally, fine roots are a dominant source of carbon in forest soils, yet the fungi that decompose this material and that drive the sequestration or respiration of this carbon remain largely uncharacterized. Fungi vary in their capacity to decompose plant litter, suggesting that fungal community composition is an important determinant of decomposition rates. Variable-retention harvesting is a forestry practice that modifies fungal communities by providing refuge for ectomycorrhizal fungi. We evaluated the effects of variable retention and clear-cut harvesting on fungal communities decomposing fine roots at two sites (6 and 13 years postharvest), at two decay stages (43 days and 1 year), and in uncut stands in temperate rainforests. Harvesting impacts on fungal community composition were detected only after 6 years after harvest. We suggest that fungal community composition may be an important factor that reduces fine-root decomposition rates relative to those of above-ground plant litter, which has important consequences for forest carbon cycling.

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“…At STEMS2, Jones et al (2008) found no differences in ectomycorrhizal fungal communities between uncut stands and a range of aggregate sizes (5-40 m in diameter), 4-6 months after harvest, but the influence of the patch in maintaining ectomycorrhizal diversity disappeared 10 m from the patch edge. However, 10 years after harvest at the STEMS1 research sites, Kranabetter et al (2013) found reduced abundance and fruiting of ectomycorrhizal fungi in patch sizes < 20 m in diameter relative to uncut stands. These authors noted that although none of the patch sizes successfully maintained ectomycorrhizal diversity relative to continuous forest, the reductions in diversity were modest and populations of prominent fungi were stabilized in patch sizes of at least 0.2 ha.…”

Section: Soil Biodiversitymentioning

confidence: 91%

Two decades of variable retention in British Columbia: a review of its implementation and effectiveness for biodiversity conservation

et al. 2019

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Stand-level retention is an important component of sustainable forest management which aims to balance ecological, social and economic objectives. Long-term retention of mature forest structures at the time of harvesting (variable retention) is intended to produce future forest stands that more closely resemble conditions that develop after natural disturbances, thereby maintaining greater diversity of habitats for a variety of organisms. Structure includes features such as live and dead trees representing multiple canopy layers, undisturbed understory vegetation and coarse woody debris. Over the past two decades, variable retention has become common on forest lands in the temperate rainforests of coastal British Columbia (BC) and has been applied to a lesser extent in inland forest types. Our review of studies in BC and in similar forest types in our region indicates that both aggregated and dispersed retention can contribute to biodiversity conservation by providing short-term 'life-boating' habitat for some species and by enhancing the structural characteristics of future stands. For example, greater abundance of species present in the pre-harvest forest have been documented for vegetation, birds, carabid beetles, gastropods, ectomycorrhizal fungi and soil fauna in retention cutblocks compared to clearcuts. There are, however, some negative consequences for timber production such as wind damage to retained trees and reduced growth rates of tree regeneration compared to clearcuts. The authors suggest an adaptive management approach for balancing competing objectives when faced with uncertainty. This includes monitoring the implementation and effectiveness of various strategies for achieving goals. Over two decades of experience applying variable retention harvesting to industrial-scale management of forest lands in BC suggests that it is possible to balance production of wood with biodiversity conservation.

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Effectiveness of green-tree retention in the conservation of ectomycorrhizal fungi

Cited by 29 publications

References 46 publications

Facilitation between woody and herbaceous plants that associate with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in temperate European forests

Facilitation between woody and herbaceous plants that associate with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in temperate European forests

Limited Effects of Variable-Retention Harvesting on Fungal Communities Decomposing Fine Roots in Coastal Temperate Rainforests

Two decades of variable retention in British Columbia: a review of its implementation and effectiveness for biodiversity conservation

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