Fungi succession

[Tony Croft aka hamadryad]

Not a subject im too hot on but I know a guy who is! something that really fascinates me though and thought it was worth doing a specific thread on it as i would like to know more and see what else others have come across on thier travels.

 

Certain fungi preceed others and prepare the way for others, this micro landscape upon rotting wood is similar to forest succession, just played out on a much smaller scale.

 

heres one of the many fallen whippendell beeches that ive been recording fungi (not formely or in a structured way) for a number of years, it started with Bulgaria iqiunans and Pluerotus species, stereums and tremellas consuming them, the number of species kept growing, trametes gibbosa, xylaria polymorphas and stereum subtomentosum, I never tire of looking at this fallen beech, always something new to see:thumbup1:

 

This photo was prety early on, and i will add the fungal species when ive trawled through and found them and oredered them, it took me 30 minutes to find this one!

[Fungus]

Tony,

Each species of indigenous trees has its own species specific ecosystem, in the dynamics of which tree species specific symbiotic, parasitic and saprotrophic macrofungi, of which the mycelia form the mayor part of the soil food web, play an important role if not the leading part.

From a total of 4.500 (in The Netherlands) to over 8.000 (elsewhere in Europe) indigenous species of macrofungi :

- about 20 % is ectomycorrhizal,

- 78 % is saprotrophic (recyclers, keeping the food chain or energy system of the tree and/or the forest intact), of which only a few species are necrotrophic parasitic, which means they become totally saprotrophic after the tree has died,

- and only 2 % is biotrophic parasitic, which means they die after the tree is killed.

As pioneer or late stage fungi and/or generalists or specialist, all of these species fullfill specific functions during the life cycle, i.e. depending on the age of a tree. So with trees with a relatively short life cycle such as birches, you will find Russula and Lactarius species necessary for reproduction (phosphor) after 15-20 years, where as you will find these ectomycorrhizal fungi only after 60-80 years with trees such as oaks and beeches, which can become hundreds of years old.

In this respect, the best developed tree species specific ecosytem of deciduous trees is that of Quercus robur, followed by Fagus, Betula, Populus, Salix, Alnus, Carpinus, Tilia, Castanea and Corylus, and of coniferous trees that of Pinus, Larix and Picea.

Gerrit

[Tony Croft aka hamadryad]

Gerrit, in the U.K there is a few more species recorded on beech than Oak, might this suggest that here at least the beech does rival if not proceed the oak in fungal community diversity?

[Fungus]

Gerrit, in the U.K there is a few more species recorded on beech than Oak, might this suggest that here at least the beech does rival if not proceed the oak in fungal community diversity?

 

Tony,

You talk about on, I about in association with, i.e. on (the wood and bark of) the tree, as well as in symbioses with the tree roots or recycling parts of the tree on the forest floor, so are all tree species specific species of macrofungi and especially the ectomycorrhizal symbionts and leave and litter recyclers included in your top two ?

For instance, recycling of capules of beech is exclusively done by Xylaria carpophila, where as acorns are recycled by Ciboria batschiana and Hymenoscyphus fructigenus. And Quercus robur has far more tree species specific ectomycorrhizal symbionts such as Russula, Lactarius, Inocybe and Hydnaceae then Fagus has.

Gerrit

[Tony Croft aka hamadryad]

Tony,

You talk about on, I about in association with, i.e. on (the wood and bark of) the tree, as well as in symbioses with the tree roots or recycling parts of the tree on the forest floor, so are all tree species specific species of macrofungi and especially the ectomycorrhizal symbionts and leave and litter recyclers included in your top two ?

For instance, recycling of capules of beech is exclusively done by Xylaria carpophila, where as acorns are recycled by Ciboria batschiana and Hymenoscyphus fructigenus. And Quercus robur has far more tree species specific ectomycorrhizal symbionts such as Russula, Lactarius, Inocybe and Hydnaceae then Fagus has.

Gerrit

 

Ive learnt more this weekend than in ages:thumbup1:

[Fungus]

And I can add to it, that Fagus has a life cycle, which is one half to one fourth of the life cycle of Quercus robur, so it takes less time to pass all stages of tree species specific succession.

Gerrit