Forest Biomass, Carbon Stocks, and Macrofungal Dynamics: A Case Study in Costa Rica

Abstract

There are few published studies providing information about macrofungal biology in a context of forest dynamics in tropical areas. For this study, a characterization of above-ground standing tree biomass and carbon stocks was performed for four different forest subtypes within two life zones in Costa Rica. Fungal productivity and reproductive success were estimated and analyzed in the context of the forest systems studied and results showed fungal dynamics to be a complex and challenging topic. In the present study, fungal productivity was higher in forest patches with more tree density but independent from life zones, whereas fungal biomass was higher in premontane areas with ectomycorrhizal dominant trees. Even though some observed patterns could be explained in terms of climatic differences and biotic relationships, the high fungal productivity observed in dry forests was an interesting finding and represents a topic for further studies.

Hacia un enfoque integrado de investigación micológica en Costa Rica

“…Figure 1. Temporal canopy differences in seasonally dry and premontane wet forest patches of Costa Rica and characteristics of fungal assemblages in them based on Rojas and Calvo (2014) and Rojas et al (2017). Note: the present study is the source for the construction of this figure.…”

“…However, applied bioprospective studies have gained momentum (Rojas-Jiménez et al, 2016;Lee et al, 2016) after the work of Giselle Tamayo in the National Institute of Biodiversity (see Gámez, 2007). Ecological studies dealing with fungal dynamics are rare but have also been carried out in the last years (Rojas and Calvo, 2014;Rojas et al, 2017;Looby and Treseder, 2018). Fungal studies for agricultural purposes, the focal point of mycological research in Costa Rica for many years, are still conducted in this territory (Marín-Chacón et al, 2017;Castro-Chinchilla andUmaña-Rojas, 2017, McGee et al, 2018), and medical mycology has been recently approached for applied purposes (Jaikel-Víquez et al, 2015).…”

“…A complete soil characterization was also performed for all forest types. The most important results were summarized in Rojas and Calvo (2014) and Rojas et al, (2017).…”