The Influence of Temperature on the Location and Development of Decay Fungi in Lodgepole Pine Logging Slash

Abstract

In an investigation to determine the fungal flora of lodgepole pine logging slash and the growth rates and decaying abilities of the principal fungi in vitro as contrasted with conditions in nature, four hymenomycetes were isolated consistently and proved to cause most of the decay; Lenzites saepiaria Wulf. ex Fr., Peniophora phlebioides Jacks. and Dearden, Stereum sanguinolentum Alb. and Schw. ex Fr., and Coniophora puteana (Schum. ex Fr.) Karst. These four fungi comprised 80% of the basidiomycetes isolated from slash. Peniophora phlebioides predominated in the upper portions of individual pieces of slash, Lenzites saepiaria in the center, and Coniophora puteana and Stereum sanguinolentum in the lower portions. Relatively broad temperature ranges and high temperature optima were demonstrated for P. phlebioides and L. saepiaria to grow and cause decay, in contrast with the narrower temperature ranges and lower optimal temperatures demonstrated for C. puteana and S. sanguinolentum. The internal temperatures of slash were proved to fluctuate between wider extremes in the upper portions of slash than in the lower portions. This is believed to be a partial explanation of the characteristic distributions of individual fungi within slash. The relative decaying abilities of the four main fungi as indicated by wood block tests, in decreasing order of importance were: L. saepiaria, C. puteana, P. phlebioides, S. sanguinolentum. Because of its greater frequency, however, P. phlebioides probably ranks higher in the scale of slash decayers than C. puteana.

Effects of temperature and litter type on fungal growth and decomposition of leaf litter

“…is mesophilic. The optimal temperature of hyphal growth was consistent with that of decomposition for Qs1-1 and Bc2-2, but not so for Cr1-2, which supports the finding of Loman (1962) regarding wood-decomposing fungi that the optimum temperature for growth was not necessarily equal to that for decomposition. The substrate utilization of Xylaria sp.…”

Short-term effects of prescribed burning on wood-rotting fungi.

“…Our experience from other forest-fire areas gives also evidence that these two species are rather well adapted to the fire. Gloeophyllum sepiarium, which is a common species of stumps and logging waste of coniferous trees especially on open places (Niemelä 1994) and which has been shown to tolerate high temperatures (Loman 1962(Loman , 1965, was found several times from burned and charred wood of both coniferous and deciduous trees in the study area. In other burned areas we have also found, that it grows often on burned and charred wood.…”

Review of literature on climate change and forest diseases of western North America

“…Decay of wood in living trees and of woody debris is heavily dependent on moisture and temperature (Boddy 1983, Griffin 1977, Loman 1965. Some decay fungi are quite tolerant of high temperatures and dry conditions and are often found in the outer layers of slash piles, whereas other fungi require more water and lower temperatures and are restricted to the center or bottom of slash piles (Loman 1962(Loman , 1965Spaulding 1929Spaulding , 1944.…”

“…Many of these fungi are not host specific (Gilbertson and Ryvarden 1986); therefore, there is a wide array of decay fungi available to colonize a specific substrate under a given set of conditions. Wood moisture content is the most important influence on decay and is dependent on humidity, precipitation, (Loman 1962(Loman , 1965Spaulding 1929Spaulding , 1944. Coniophora puteana and Stereum sanguinulentum, isolated from lower portions of the same slash piles, have temperature optima of 24 °C and 20 to 24 °C, respectively (Loman 1962).…”