The role of novel forest ecosystems in the conservation of wood‐inhabiting fungi in boreal broadleaved forests

• Published in: Ecology and evolution 2016-10, Vol.6 (19), p.6943-6954
• Main Authors: Juutilainen, Katja, Mönkkönen, Mikko, Kotiranta, Heikki, Halme, Panu
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Afforestation; Afforested fields; Associated species; Biodiversity; Biosphere; Boreal forests; Communities; Community composition; Composition; corticioids; Dead wood; deadwood; Decay; Divergence; Environmental conditions; Forest ecosystems; Forest management; Forests; fungal communities; Fungi; Habitats; Herbs; Human impact; Human influences; natural herb‐rich forests; novel ecosystems; Original Research; Pasture; Rare species; Species diversity; Species richness; Terrestrial ecosystems; Vegetation; Wildlife conservation; Wood; wood pastures
• ISSN: 2045-7758; 2045-7758
• DOI: 10.1002/ece3.2384

The increasing human impact on the earth's biosphere is inflicting changes at all spatial scales. As well as deterioration and fragmentation of natural biological systems, these changes also led to other, unprecedented effects and emergence of novel habitats. In boreal zone, intensive forest management has negatively impacted a multitude of deadwood‐associated species. This is especially alarming given the important role wood‐inhabiting fungi have in the natural decay processes. In the boreal zone, natural broad‐leaved‐dominated, herb‐rich forests are threatened habitats which have high wood‐inhabiting fungal species richness. Fungal diversity in other broadleaved forest habitat types is poorly known. Traditional wood pastures and man‐made afforested fields are novel habitats that could potentially be important for wood‐inhabiting fungi. This study compares species richness and fungal community composition across the aforementioned habitat types, based on data collected for wood‐inhabiting fungi occupying all deadwood diameter fractions. Corticioid and polyporoid fungi were surveyed from 67 130 deadwood particles in four natural herb‐rich forests, four birch‐dominated wood pastures, and four birch‐dominated afforested field sites in central Finland. As predicted, natural herb‐rich forests were the most species‐rich habitat. However, afforested fields also had considerably higher overall species richness than wood pastures. Many rare or rarely collected species were detected in each forest type. Finally, fungal community composition showed some divergence not only among the different habitat types, but also among deadwood diameter fractions. Synthesis and applications: In order to maintain biodiversity at both local and regional scales, conserving threatened natural habitat types and managing traditional landscapes is essential. Man‐made secondary woody habitats could provide the necessary resources and serve as surrogate habitats for many broadleaved deadwood‐associated species, and thus complement the existing conservation network of natural forests. This study compares fungal species richness and community composition among natural herb‐rich forests, wood pastures, and afforested fields. Natural herb‐rich forests were the most species‐rich, but also afforested fields had considerably higher species richness than wood pastures. Many rare and rarely collected species were found from each forest type.