Fungal diversity, woody debris, and wood decomposition in managed and unmanaged Patagonian Nothofagus pumilio forests

ANA GALLO; PATRICIA SILVA; PABLO LÓPEZ BERNAL; ALICIA MORETTO,; ALICIA GRESLEBIN

MYCOLOGICAL PROGRESS

SPRINGER HEIDELBERG

Lugar: HEIDELBERG; Año: 2021

1617-416X

Fungal diversity, woody debris, and wood decomposition were assessed inNothofagus pumilio forests with and without forest management (controls) inArgentina, and were related with the forest structure and microclimate. We establisheda wood decomposition assay to determine mass loss of branches and twigs in twodecay classes (1, incipient and 2, intermediate decay stage), and used generalizedlinear mixed-effects models to evaluate whether fungal diversity and mass loss differedbetween treatments (managed forests and controls). We found no differences inrichness nor in abundance between treatments, and their community composition wassimilar. However, Botryobasidium vagum, Phanerochaete velutina and Sistotremabrinkmanii were more abundant in managed forests, and Amyloathelia aspera wasmore abundant in controls. Branches in intermediate decay stage showed greatermass loss in managed forests than in controls, but mass loss of the other debris typesdid not differ between treatments. The volume of coarse woody debris was greater inmanaged forests than in controls, and had a positive effect on fungal richness. Ourresults indicate that N. pumilio forest management did not generate evident changesin fungal diversity, or in wood decomposition after 20 years of the forest management.However, the higher mass loss of branches in intermediate decay stage observed inmanaged forests suggest that there were some factors operating in those forests in thepast which may have accelerated decomposition. This highlights the need for studiesevaluating changes in canopy cover, microclimate and fungal community, includingpotential key species, in the short and the long term after forest management.