Fungi decaying the wood of fallen beech (Nothofagus) trees in the South Island of New Zealand

Abstract

To extend present knowledge of communities of wood decay fungi in native forests, basidiomycetes and ascomycetes were isolated from within 15 fallen stems in beech (Nothofagus, Nothofagaceae) forests in the South Island of New Zealand. Fungal species were identified as precisely as possible using traditional culturing and molecular approaches. The internal distribution of species within stems was determined. Common fungi that occupied significant portions of stems were Ganoderma applanatum sensu Wakefield, Australoporus tasmanicus, Inonotus nothofagi, Pleurotus purpureo-olivaceus, and an unidentified hymenochaetaceous species. Richness and diversity of basidiomycete species were greater in stems of red beech (Nothofagus fusca (Hook. f.) Oerst.) and silver beech (Nothofagus menziesii (Hook. f.) Oerst.) than in those of matai (Prumnopitys taxifolia (Banks & Sol. ex D. Don) de Laub.; Podocarpaceae) and tawa (Beilschmiedia tawa (A. Cunn.) Kirk; Lauraceae), as determined from earlier studies in podocarp hardwood and beech indigenous forests. There was greater similarity in the species composition of basidiomycete fungi colonising the three beech species compared with those colonising rimu (Dacrydium cupressinum Sol. ex Lamb.; Podocarpaceae), tawa, and matai. Based on observations in this study and on international research on the effects of selective logging on basidiomycete biodiversity, the decision to restrict to 50% the extraction of wood following storm damage in beech forests on the West Coast of the South Island appears to have been appropriate.

Rare species of wood‐inhabiting fungi are not local

“…This may reflect dispersal limitation and a lack of inoculum. Other studies have suggested that fungal species are more restricted in spatial breadth (e.g., Greslebin and Rajchenberg 2003, Hood et al 2018), however, previous studies have generally not compared observed results with a null expectation. Our results are consistent with a recent meta‐analysis of dispersal limitation in wood decay fungi (Komonen and Müller 2018), showing that dispersal limitation of fungi was only rarely detected at scales less than 10 km (one out of 19 studies).…”

“…While the importance of cryptic biota to biodiversity and particularly ecosystem functioning is increasingly recognized, a lack of information about these organisms has hindered conservation efforts. Deadwood fungi have been studied using sporocarp observations (Allen et al 2000, Lindblad 2001, Greslebin and Rajchenberg 2003, Krah et al 2018) or, less frequently, culturing (Hood 2012, Hood et al 2018). Sporocarp surveys require multiple surveys over time, omit many fungal species, and require expertise to identify species.…”

“…In the New Zealand context, arguments against harvesting of deadwood have been partially based on impacts on fungal and other biodiversity (Hood et al 2018), while strong arguments in favor of harvesting have focused on rural employment (Watson 2017). Preserving fungal biodiversity has received less attention than other Eukaryotes (particularly birds), but the social, cultural, and economic importance of fungal diversity is substantial.…”

“…Salvage logging of temperate rain forest conservation lands in New Zealand was passed into legislation following Cyclone Ita in 2014, allowing timber harvesting in forests that are otherwise free from extractive activities (Platt et al 2014, Watson 2017, Hood et al 2018). Large‐scale disturbances are the primary form of forest regeneration in these forests, with most of the forest comprising even‐aged stands (Norton et al 1988, Wells et al 2001).…”

DNA metabarcoding reveals high relative abundance of trunk disease fungi in grapevines from Marlborough, New Zealand

“…Of total reads, 4.7% were assigned to Diatrypaceae. Eutypa lata had by far the highest relative abundance (91%) followed by two Diatrypella species (6.9% and 2.1%) previously reported in association with New Zealand Vitis and Nothofagus respectively [ 10 , 27 ]. Rare Diatrypaceae sequences corresponded to Eutypella and Peroneutypa species (Table 1 ).…”