The influence of clear-cutting on ectomycorrhizal fungus diversity in a lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta) stand, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, and Gallatin National Forest, Montana

Abstract

Effects of clear-cutting on the ectomycorrhizal (EM) fungus community in a Pinus contorta Dougl. ex Loud. forest near Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, U.S.A., were assessed using molecular techniques. Samples were taken by soil core in both undisturbed and clear-cut sites by randomized block design. Species overlap was compared between clear-cut and undisturbed sites and ascomycete-basidiomycete ratio was determined, using PCR-RFLP methods. Fifty species of EM fungi were detected in the clear-cut sites, the most common being Cenococcum geophilum Fr., Suillus sp., a member of the suilloid group, a Russulaceae species, and a Thelephoraceae species. Sixty-six species were detected in the undisturbed sites, which were dominated by a Suilloid species, a Tricholomataceae species, Cortinarius sp., and Cenococcum geophilum. Species composition in the clear-cut sites differed significantly from that in the undisturbed sites (P = 0.0001). However, 9 of the 14 species most commonly found in the clear-cut sites were also found in the undisturbed sites, but in much lower abundance, while species rank curves of both stand types mirrored each other. There were no significant differences in species richness, root-tip abundance, or ascomycete-basidiomycete ratio between the clear-cut and undisturbed sites. However, species richness was lower in the clear-cut sites than in the undisturbed sites. An overall loss of species richness after clear-cutting and significant changes in species composition indicate that clear-cutting can negatively alter the EM fungal community, and this may have profound effects on ecosystem function.Key words: ectomycorrhizae, community structure, clear-cutting, molecular techniques.

Effects of Litter Addition on Ectomycorrhizal Associates of a Lodgepole Pine ( Pinus contorta ) Stand in Yellowstone National Park

“…Restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) patterns that were identical for EM and fruiting bodies were deemed a match. The utility and accuracy of this method have been demonstrated previously (26) and have used by workers in our laboratory in Yellowstone National Park (5,12,17,18).…”

Ectomycorrhizal fungal communities of black spruce differ between wetland and upland forests

“…Cenococcum, MRA 1, and Cortinariaceae 1 morphotypes and genotypes occurred across both wet and dry habitats, whereas genotypes of Amphinema, Cortinariaceae 2, and Russulaceae 2 showed more uneven patterns of distribution. Habitat-and site-specific associations have also been reported for Amphinema and MRA -hybrid spruce ECMs, lodgepole pine ECMs, and tomentelloid types based on RFLP profiles and ITS sequences (Byrd et al 2000;Kõljalg et al 2000;Mah et al 2001).…”

Characterization of Pinus ectomycorrhizas from mixed conifer and pygmy forests using morphotyping and molecular methods

“…and Suillus tomentosus have been observed in late-stage forests (Visser 1995), and Cortinariaceae spp. were also observed in undisturbed forests in Wyoming, U.S.A. (Byrd et al 2000). Although abundance was not measured in this study, C. geophilum was clearly the most abundant ECM type in hydric pygmy sites.…”