Old-growth forests are key elements of ecosystem diversity and conservation strategies, providing niche differentiation and trophic pathways that produce structural and compositional heterogeneity. In these forests, deadwood is particularly important for saproxylic and mycorrhizal fungi, sustaining forest productivity and environmental services. In this study was analysed the saproxylic fungal diversity in Mediterranean mountain forests, characterized by different management histories and forest types (holm oak and beech). The relationships between saproxylic fungal biodiversity and structural attributes were considered in three forest stands of the Apennines (Italy). In addition, descriptive environmental parameters and forest traits were related to prevailing fungal communities, in order to analyse the species composition and distribution patterns of saproxylic fungi resulting from the ordination processes. The study sites were selected on the basis of their late-seral stage of development. The species frequency was analysed through multivariate techniques to test the relationships between fungi, structural attributes and environmental variables. A Detrended Correspondence Analysis joint plot (DCA-joint plot) was used to investigate the response of the overall structure of the fungal communities to environmental gradients. Living tree volume, altitude, vegetation, and the frequency of species with ephemeral sporocarp lifespan played a crucial role in diversifying species distribution patterns. Deadwood volume and decay affected trophic roles and species diversity of saproxylic organisms, including wood-inhabiting fungi. However, differences between the considered climatic regions exerted a major role on the occurrence of fungi with ephemeral sporocarps more than deadwood abundance, utilized primarily as fructification substrate.

Stand structure and deadwood amount influences saproxylic fungal biodiversity in Mediterranean mountain unmanaged forests / Persiani, Anna Maria; Fabio, Lombardi; Lunghini, Dario; Granito, Vito Mario; Tognetti, Roberto; Maggi, Oriana; Pioli, Silvia; Marco, Marchetti. - In: IFOREST. - ISSN 1971-7458. - STAMPA. - 9:(2016), pp. 115-124. [10.3832/ifor1304-008]

Stand structure and deadwood amount influences saproxylic fungal biodiversity in Mediterranean mountain unmanaged forests

Anna Maria Persiani;Dario Lunghini;Vito Mario Granito;TOGNETTI, ROBERTO;Oriana Maggi;PIOLI, SILVIA;Marco Marchetti
2016

Abstract

Old-growth forests are key elements of ecosystem diversity and conservation strategies, providing niche differentiation and trophic pathways that produce structural and compositional heterogeneity. In these forests, deadwood is particularly important for saproxylic and mycorrhizal fungi, sustaining forest productivity and environmental services. In this study was analysed the saproxylic fungal diversity in Mediterranean mountain forests, characterized by different management histories and forest types (holm oak and beech). The relationships between saproxylic fungal biodiversity and structural attributes were considered in three forest stands of the Apennines (Italy). In addition, descriptive environmental parameters and forest traits were related to prevailing fungal communities, in order to analyse the species composition and distribution patterns of saproxylic fungi resulting from the ordination processes. The study sites were selected on the basis of their late-seral stage of development. The species frequency was analysed through multivariate techniques to test the relationships between fungi, structural attributes and environmental variables. A Detrended Correspondence Analysis joint plot (DCA-joint plot) was used to investigate the response of the overall structure of the fungal communities to environmental gradients. Living tree volume, altitude, vegetation, and the frequency of species with ephemeral sporocarp lifespan played a crucial role in diversifying species distribution patterns. Deadwood volume and decay affected trophic roles and species diversity of saproxylic organisms, including wood-inhabiting fungi. However, differences between the considered climatic regions exerted a major role on the occurrence of fungi with ephemeral sporocarps more than deadwood abundance, utilized primarily as fructification substrate.
2016
forest biodiversity; structural heterogeneity; saproxylic fungi; old-growth forest; apennines forests; sporocarp lifespan
01 Pubblicazione su rivista::01a Articolo in rivista
Stand structure and deadwood amount influences saproxylic fungal biodiversity in Mediterranean mountain unmanaged forests / Persiani, Anna Maria; Fabio, Lombardi; Lunghini, Dario; Granito, Vito Mario; Tognetti, Roberto; Maggi, Oriana; Pioli, Silvia; Marco, Marchetti. - In: IFOREST. - ISSN 1971-7458. - STAMPA. - 9:(2016), pp. 115-124. [10.3832/ifor1304-008]
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11573/530566
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