How does forest management affect fungal diversity and community composition? Current knowledge and future perspectives for the conservation of forest fungi

• Published in: Forest ecology and management 2020-02, Vol.457, p.117678, Article 117678
• Main Authors: Tomao, Antonio, Antonio Bonet, José, Castaño, Carles, de-Miguel, Sergio
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Anthropogenic disturbance; Ecology; Forest Science; Fungal communities; Fungi; Silviculture; Skogsvetenskap
• ISSN: 0378-1127; 1872-7042; 1872-7042
• DOI: 10.1016/j.foreco.2019.117678

•We review the effect of forest management practices on fungal diversity.•Fungal diversity is positively related with canopy cover, basal area and tree species diversity.•Diversity of deadwood size and decomposition stage is positively related to richness of wood-inhabiting fungi.•The higher is the forest management intensity the lower is the diversity of fungal species.•Low impact silviculture and enhancement of stand structural complexity help to conserve fungal diversity. The influence of forest management on fungal diversity and community composition has been the subject of a wide number of studies over the last two decades. However, the difficulty of studying the complex kingdom of fungi under real forest conditions has led to rather scattered scientific knowledge. Here, we provide the current state of knowledge suggesting future research directions regarding (i) stand structure attributes (age, tree cover, stand density, tree species composition), (ii) management history (managed vs unmanaged), (iii) silvicultural treatments (thinning, clearcutting, shelterwood methods, selective cutting) and (iv) other anthropogenic disturbances (mushroom picking, salvage logging, prescribed burning, fertilization) affecting fungal diversity and community composition. The reviewed studies reported a positive correlation between fungal diversity and stand structure variables such as canopy cover, basal area of the stand and tree species diversity, particularly for mycorrhizal species. Abundance and diversity in size, tree species and decomposition stage of deadwood are reported as positively related to richness of wood-inhabiting fungi. The main findings about the effects of silvicultural practices suggest that the higher is the management intensity the lower is the diversity of ectomycorrhizal and wood-inhabiting species, at least in the short term. We have therefore reported those silvicultural practices which may reduce trade-offs between timber harvesting and fungal diversity conservation. Indeed, fungal diversity can be conserved in managed forests if (i) low impact logging operations are performed; (ii) stand structural complexity and late-successional forest characteristics are enhanced; (iii) deadwood amount and diversity is promoted, (iv) landscape heterogeneity and connectivity is improved or maintained.