Localised distribution of Fomes fomentarius

[David Humphries]

we had that posted before Chris

 

http://arbtalk.co.uk/forum/tree-health-care/21495-spotted-fomes-fomentarius-norfolk.html

 

Haven't seen it myself in Norfolk

 

 

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[Kveldssanger]

Not to worry then!

 

Not seen it in person, asides from the many you guys had at your depot. I was reading some literature on its distribution in the US, and it appears to occupy the northern-most territories of North America (from the Appalachian Mountains and northwards). By that logic, if the climate in the UK warms (and similarly in the USA), could its distribution potentially retreat further northwards? I cannot find any specific literature on this, asides from conclusions that can be drawn from its current range.

[David Humphries]

Our tame mycologist has a theory that both Fomes and Fomitopsis are extending their host range northwards.

 

 

 

 

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[Kveldssanger]

Extending - would that be on particular species (such as beech), as it's considered more abundant in Scotland upon birch (in place of birch polypore), if I remember correctly?

[David Humphries]

Multiple host species in terms of Fomes, as this thread appears to show

 

Mainly on birch in Scotland.

 

 

Not sure about Fomitopsis, as it's pretty rare.

The two most recent finds across the myco forums have been on beech.

 

 

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[Kveldssanger]

I suppose my question is more along the lines of, if Fomes is already present in Scotland upon birch quite readily, how can its range move northwards in the UK if it is already up in Scotland? Are we perhaps going to see it begin colonising more upon birch, beech, oak, poplar, etc in the north (midlands onward), and are we perhaps also going to see it move south from its birch refuge in Scotland by using birch and other species (including beech and the other species mentioned in this thread)? In this sense, would it perhaps not be an assimilation of two existing Fomes populations to create one UK-wide meta-population? That is, assuming, there are indeed two distinct populations at present, and not one that is just slightly more dissipated in certain regions of the UK.

 

As a disclaimer, I'm simply brainstorming aloud and apologise if this discussion has already been had somewhere.

 

Hope this makes sense as well - banging headache. Already had to edit this a few times!

Edited March 26, 2016 by Kveldssanger

[David Humphries]

Fomes fomentarius colonising an Oak the other side of the fence at work.

 

 

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[Kveldssanger]

Nice find, there. Can I see two on that oak?

[David Humphries]

.............Can I see two on that oak?

 

About 4 or 5 fruit bodies at various stages of development on that oak Chris.

 

 

We found another new host tree today.

(Well Ali did to be accurate, geezers got his fungdar switched well and truly on)

 

This one is No11 on the distribution map.

 

Oak again.

 

 

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Edited May 3, 2016 by David Humphries

[Jake Andrews]

Is that now flipped to saprophytic mode David with the decline of the branch?