Stand age and sampling year effect on the fungal fruit body community in Pinus pinaster forests in central Spain

Abstract

The process of fungal community succession in forests is still insufficiently known, especially in Mediterranean ecosystems. To reveal successional patterns, we studied changes in aboveground sporocarp composition in managed Pinus pinaster Ait. forests across a stand age chronosequence from 5 to more than 90 years in Soria province (Central Spain). We evaluated the effect of yearly conditions and stand age on species richness, composition, and trophic groups. All aboveground sporocarps were collected and identified in 21 plots, each measuring 150 m2, placed in a random stand age-stratified survey. Sampling was performed weekly in the autumn during 6 years (1997–2002). The effect of year and stand age on species richness was analysed using repeated measures analysis of variance and change in composition. Changes in community composition were evaluated via canonical correspondence analysis (CCA). The response of different trophic groups was analyzed using ANOVA with age as a fixed factor. Fungal community richness increased with stand age. This increase was related to the rise in humicolous saprotroph and mycorrhizal species. The presence of parasitic and lignicolous fungi was always very low, probably as a result of forest management. Yearly conditions exerted a stronger effect than stand age on aboveground sporocarp community richness and composition.