Ten principles for conservation translocations of threatened wood-inhabiting fungi

Abstract Unlike for many other organism groups, conservation translocations of fungi are still rare. Encouraged by recent successful translocations, there is a growing interest in applying this conservation tool to threatened wood-inhabiting fungi. When combined with other conservation or restoration measures, translocation can be an effective measure for preventing further population decline in the short term, and species extinctions in the long term. Translocations can be appropriate for rare and specialist fungal species that occur as small local populations in isolated patches across fragmented landscapes, where there is a low likelihood of successful dispersal between distant host tree…

Ekologien ja systemaatikkojen yhteistyö tuottaa uutta tietoa kotelosienilajistosta

The effect of buffer strip width and selective logging on riparian forest microclimate

Riparian forests have cool and humid microclimates, and one aim of leaving forested buffer strips between clear-cut areas and streams is to conserve these microclimatic conditions. We used an experimental study set up of 35 streamside sites to study the impacts of buffer strip width (15 or 30 m) and selective logging within the buffer strips on summer-time air temperature, relative air humidity and canopy openness 12 years after logging. The buffer strip treatments were compared to unlogged control sites. We found that 15-meter buffer strips with or without selective logging and 30-meter buffer strips with selective logging were insufficient in maintaining temperature, relative humidity and…

Local forest continuity – important for species-rich Micarea lichen communities, but less so for decomposers

Effects of local forest continuity on the diversity of fungi on standing dead pines

Human-induced fragmentation affects forest continuity, i.e. availability of a suitable habitat for the target species over a time period. The dependence of wood-inhabiting fungi on landscape level continuity has been well demonstrated, but the importance of local continuity has remained controversial. In this study, we explored the effects of local forest continuity (microhabitat and stand level) on the diversity of wood-inhabiting fungi on standing dead trunks of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.). We studied species richness and community composition of decomposers and Micarea lichens on 70 trunks in 14 forests in central Finland that differed in their state of continuity. We used dendrochr…

Local forest continuity – important for species-rich Micarea lichen communities, but less so for decomposers

Fragmentation has a negative effect on forest continuity, i.e. availability of a suitable habitat for the target species over a time period (1). The dependence of wood-inhabiting fungi on landscape level continuity is well acknowledged, but the role of local continuity has remained unclear. We explored the effects of local forest continuity (microhabitat and stand level) on the diversity of fungi inhabiting standing dead trunks of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.). Specifically, we studied the species richness and community composition of decomposers and Micarea lichens. The study included 70 trunks in 14 forests in central Finland with varying state of continuity. We assessed the detailed h…