Bugs, bees and beasties- Bio-diversity matters

[Tony Croft aka hamadryad]

I just love the interactions to be found even on the most minuet scales, biodiversity rocks.

 

A tale of two fungi and a springtail

 

In some cases the interactions between mycelia are influenced by other organisms. An interesting example of this is given by the species Marasmius androsaceus [http://www.bk.tudelft.nl/users/kap/internet/nem/marasmius_androsaceus.html] and Mycena galopus [http://www.pilzepilze.de/piga/zeige.htm?name=mycena_galopus]. In these two species the mycelia produce small mushrooms as fruiting bodies, the caps being several millimetres to a centimetre or so in diameter. They are common in northern hemisphere forests and the mycelia are decomposers of leaf and twig litter. The species are often found growing together, but as both species compete for the same food source it seems surprising to find such co-existence. The dynamics of the two species have been studied in detail in one English forest.

 

The first thing to be done was to see how effectively each species colonised samples of sterile forest litter. Laboratory tests showed that Marasmius is the superior coloniser of such litter, easily out-competing Mycena. However, Mycena galopus appears to have good defences against a competitor such as Marasmius. When mycelia from the two species are brought together in the laboratory, there is deadlock with Marasmius unable to destroy the Mycena. On the basis of these findings you could still expect the Mycena to have almost insurmountable difficulties in maintaining a significant presence in the forests. After all, it would seem that Marasmius would quickly colonize fresh litter and confine Mycena to limited areas where it would eventually run out of food.

 

A little more investigation showed that in the forest, the mycelia of the two species occupy slightly different niches. Marasmius in the upper layers of the leaf and twig litter, Mycena a little lower. At first sight there appears to be nothing to stop Marasmius mycelium expanding to the lower layers but a tiny invertebrate tips the balance. Onychiurus latus, a species of Collembola (the group commonly called Springtails) lives in leaf litter and feeds on fungal mycelia. This non-jumping springtail can eat both Marasmius and Mycena mycelia, but showed a strong preference for Marasmius. When the laboratory tests (mentioned above) were repeated, but with the springtails included in the samples of forest litter, Mycena became the superior coloniser. Paradoxically, it now looks as though Marasmius would have difficulty surviving. However, one aspect of springtail behaviour allows the co-existence of the two fungi. The springtail is prone to desiccation and, during the drier months, would move into the lower layers of the forest litter. So, during those times Marasmius mycelia could feed in the upper litter and there build up the biomass necessary for mushroom formation, unhindered by springtails. The concentration of springtails in the lower litter would keep Marasmius mycelium in check at that depth and allow Mycena free rein in that area.

[sloth]

Incredible!

[sean freeman]

What a great article and wonderful bit of research,

 

We have Marasmius cinnamoneus in many of our woodland and forest communities here and one of my favourite presentation tricks is to take a totally dessicated clump of fruiting bodies one or two days old and well and truely dried out and to revivie them by placing them in a small dish of water.

 

The ability to rehydrate itself is (apparently) quite a well known characteristic of this very hard working wood litter digester.

 

I have often wondered if this capacity (and yes I know there are other fungi that also can do this within limits - Marasmius can apparently rehydrate several times in the ground layer before its tissues are beyond 'repair') gives M. cinnamoneus an advantage over other potential competitiors that might be knocked out of the niche by dry conditions.

[Tony Croft aka hamadryad]

What a great article and wonderful bit of research,

 

We have Marasmius cinnamoneus in many of our woodland and forest communities here and one of my favourite presentation tricks is to take a totally dessicated clump of fruiting bodies one or two days old and well and truely dried out and to revivie them by placing them in a small dish of water.

 

The ability to rehydrate itself is (apparently) quite a well known characteristic of this very hard working wood litter digester.

 

I have often wondered if this capacity (and yes I know there are other fungi that also can do this within limits - Marasmius can apparently rehydrate several times in the ground layer before its tissues are beyond 'repair') gives M. cinnamoneus an advantage over other potential competitiors that might be knocked out of the niche by dry conditions.

 

You sir are an interesting chap, think its time i popped to OZ to see what your upto over there!

[Tony Croft aka hamadryad]

http://www.cerambycoidea.com/titles/alexander2002.pdf

[Tony Croft aka hamadryad]

http://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/en/about-us/publications/Documents/4250%20ATG%206%20Wildlife.pdf

 

http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&source=web&cd=13&ved=0CCYQFjACOAo&url=http%3A%2F%2Fstrategy.sebiodiversity.org.uk%2Fdata%2Ffiles%2FHab_Def%2Fukbappriorityhabitatdescriptionsfinalallhabitats20081022.pdf&ei=y1ubTYaFBcyRswbkpJHMBg&usg=AFQjCNEP6gqooQLdGDxvxt8TDwHaN5E-_A

Edited April 5, 2011 by Tony Croft aka hamadryad

[Tony Croft aka hamadryad]

David, check this out, gave me a giggle, had no idea they existed!

 

http://www.thewcg.org.uk/

[David Humphries]

David, check this out, gave me a giggle, had no idea they existed!

 

http://www.thewcg.org.uk/

 

 

 

You absolutely need to go check those guys out.

 

I bet they're easily as bonkers as you are

 

 

 

 

 

Could actually be a very useful link up

 

.

[Tony Croft aka hamadryad]

You absolutely need to go check those guys out.

 

I bet they're easily as bonkers as you are

 

 

 

 

 

Could actually be a very useful link up

 

.

 

i was just joking with jim about how i so absolutley had to meet these nutters!

 

this is going to be interesting to say the least!

 

just mailed the group!

[Tony Croft aka hamadryad]

Found these beasties today, I was documenting bleeds via armilaria colonisation of a very large birch (which is still holding on despite three years of fighting) These beasties actually flew in whilst shooting so I too advantage. I have no idea who they are yet but I was fascinated by their ovipositing. I have witnessed Hornets and butterflies drinking the boozey ferments of honey fungus before, and am always interested in the attraction to beasts to stressed trees on their way out.