Abstract

We studied the diversity, composition, and long-term dynamics of wood-inhabiting fungi in Quercus robur stumps left after commercial tree harvesting in Lithuania. Sampling of wood was carried out at three sites and from stumps, which were 10-, 20-, 30-, 40-, and 50-year-old. DNA was isolated from wood samples and fungal communities analyzed using high-throughput sequencing. Results showed that stump age had a limited effect on fungal diversity. The development of fungal communities in oak stums was found to be a slow process as fungal communities remained similar for decades, while larger changes were only detected in older stumps. The most common fungi were Eupezizella sp. (18.4%), Hyphodontia pallidula (12.9%), Mycena galericulata (8.3%), and Lenzites betulinus (7.1%). Fistulina hepatica, which is a red-listed wood-decay oak fungus, was also detected at a low relative abundance in stump wood. In the shortage of suitable substrate, oak stumps may provide habitats for long-term survival of different fungal species, including red-listed and oak-related fungi.

Keywords

Common oak; Wood-decay fungi; Fungal diversity; Dead wood

Published in

Microbial Ecology
2024, Volume: 87, number: 1, article number: 27

SLU Authors

• Menkis, Audrius

  • Department of Forest Mycology and Plant Pathology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

UKÄ Subject classification

Forest Science
Ecology


Publication identifier

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00248-023-02334-3

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/127790