Open AccessFungal community dynamics in relation to substrate quality of decaying N orway spruce ( P icea abies [ L .] K arst.) logs in boreal forests
Author(s) -
Rajala Tiina,
Peltoniemi Mikko,
Pennanen Taina,
Mäkipää Raisa
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
fems microbiology ecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.377
H-Index - 155
eISSN - 1574-6941
pISSN - 0168-6496
DOI - 10.1111/j.1574-6941.2012.01376.x
Subject(s) - decomposer , biology , picea abies , temperature gradient gel electrophoresis , ecological succession , botany , lignin , taiga , ectomycorrhiza , biodiversity , nutrient cycle , boreal , peat , ecosystem , ecology , mycorrhiza , symbiosis , bacteria , genetics , 16s ribosomal rna
Abstract Decaying wood plays an important role in forest biodiversity, nutrient cycling and carbon balance. Community structure of wood‐inhabiting fungi changes with mass loss of wood, but the relationship between substrate quality and decomposers is poorly understood. This limits the extent to which these ecosystem services can be effectively managed. We studied the fungal community and physico‐chemical quality (stage of decay, dimensions, density, moisture, C : N ratio, lignin and water or ethanol extractives) of 543 N orway spruce logs in five unmanaged boreal forest sites of southern F inland. Fungi were identified using denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis and sequencing of DNA extracted directly from wood samples. Macroscopic fruiting bodies were also recorded. Results showed a fungal community succession with decreasing wood density and C : N ratio, and increasing moisture and lignin content. Fungal diversity peaked in the most decayed substrates. A scomycetes typically colonized recently fallen wood. Brown‐rot fungi preferred the intermediate decay stages. White‐rot fungi represented approximately one‐fifth of sequenced species in all decay phases excluding the final phase, where ectomycorrhizal ( ECM ) fungi became dominant. Lignin content of logs with white‐rot fungi was low, and ECM fungi were associated with substrates containing abundant nitrogen. Macroscopic fruiting bodies were observed for only a small number of species detected with molecular techniques.