Characterization and comparison of macrofungal communities in an Alnus tenuifolia and an Alnus crispa forest in Alaska

Abstract

Occurrence of macrofungal sporocarps, vascular plants, mosses, and lichens was recorded during the growing season of 1987 in an Alnus tenuifolia and an Alnus crispa forest near Fairbanks, Alaska. In total, 131 macrofungal species were observed, with 57 species recorded for the A. tenuifolia forest, 95 species for the A. crispa forest, and 21 species common to both. The ratio of macrofungal species to species of plants and lichens at the A. tenuifolia site was 2.0, but it was 3.3 at the A. crispa site. Similarity of macrofungi and plant–lichens ranged between 62 and 82% among plots within the same study sites and between 17 to 30% among plots between various study sites. Species–area curves for both study sites indicate that an area of 3000 m2 should contain the representative macrofungal community. The predominant and characteristic macrofungi within the A. tenuifolia forest were the ectomycorrhizal species Hebeloma cf. crustuliniforme and Alpova diplophloeus and the saprobic species Clitocybe cf. catervata. Within the A. crispa forest, the predominant and characteristic ectomycorrhizal species were Russula alnicrispae and Russula subarctica and the saprobic species Plicatura nivea and Clitocybe subalutacea. Common and frequent species in both forest types were Naucoria escharoides s.l., Polyporus varius, Lycoperdon perlatum, Coprinus domesticus, and Mycena speirea. Key words: Alaska, Alnus tenuifolia forest, Alnus crispa forest, macrofungal communities, mycoecology.