Presence of Hydnellum species on pine heaths

Abstract:

The aim of this study was to assess whether the age, the circumference and the density of trees and stumps in forests affect the occurrence of stipitate hydnoid fungi in the genus Hydnellum. This was done by surveying sporocarps of Hydnellum species in 19 forest stands of potential different age and forest characteristics on a low productive pine heath in northern Sweden. All other fungal species that was present in the forest stands were also noted. The estimated mean age of the trees in the studied forest stands varied between 25 and 144 years. There was a positive correlation between the number of Hydnellum sporocarps, as well as between the number of fungal species observed, and the estimated age and the mean circumference of the trees in the stands. The number of sporocarps of Hydnellum species was also positively correlated with the total number of fungal species found. In total, 54 different species of fungi was found and several threatened fungal species other than Hydnellum were found in the older stands. The lower number of Hydnellum and other fungi in younger stands may be due to these stands being more affected by logging. More thorough studies are needed to evaluate the status and ecological requirements of these fungi to prevent them from further decline.