Wood-inhabiting fungi in European beech forests local community drivers, continental biodiversity patterns and conservation

Transcription

1 Wood-inhabiting fungi in European beech forests local community drivers, continental biodiversity patterns and conservation Dead Wood Meeting Lammi, 6-7 Aug 2016 Jacob Heilmann-Clausen Abruzzo National Park, Italy Center for Macroecology, Evolution and Climate Natural History Museum of Denmark University of Copenhagen

2 Why are wood-inhabiting fungi relevant? Obvious conflict with forestry conservation need! Major fasciliaters of nutrient- and energy flow Drivers of forest dynamics Supplying food and habitats for other organisms Yuchengia narymica (Italy) Visible link to hidden biodiversity Public appreciation Relevant indicators! Nice model system for community ecology and decomposers Driving molecular method development in functional/community ecology

3 Continental scale patterns and gradients Expansion from refugia Temperature seasonality Biogeographical drivers: Glacial cycles Dispersal barriers Climate Hewit Nature Forest cover Nitrogen deposition Global change: Forest fragmentation (Intercontinental) host introductions Nitrogen deposition Climate change

4 Landscape scale drivers and local filters Landscape scale drivers: Landscape history Soil type Climate Local filters: Habitat availability Biotic interactions Microclimate Habitat alteration due to management

5 Unpublished data (based on > records) from the Danish fungal atlas) Beech as a host tree for wood-inhabiting fungi Fagus DCA Deciduous schrubs Conifers Sample-based rarefaction (18 woody genera) Deciduous trees Not particularly rich in wood-inhabiting fungal species Communities relatively distinct 17 specific species with at least 5 records (p < 0.05)

6 Microclimatic stress slow decay rate Successional turnover during decay Complete species turnover from fresh to rotten logs Diversification in community structure from early to late decay Decay rate & microclimate coupled Decay Heilmann-Clausen (2001): Mycological Research (70 logs in one site)

7 Axis 2 Axis 2 Community gradients in S Scandinavia Diversification from early to late decay Clear geographical signal Community turnover along climatic gradient Effects of local forest history not evident Møn C Zealand N Zealand C Jutland S Halland C Halland N Halland < 600 mm Precipitation Axis 1 Axis 1 >1100 mm Decay Heilmann-Clausen 2005: Medd. från Länsstyrelsen, Halland (400 logs in 12 sites).

8 Contrasting biodiversity patterns Alpha diversity decreasing with max tree age and old cwd-ratio Red-listed incidence increasing with south-easting and old cwd-ratio i.e. higher species richness per log in recent reserves, but lower incidence of red-listed species ** *** *** ** *** *** *** *** *** *** ** * * * ** * * Predicted alpha diversity (no. species per log) Predicted incidence of redlisted species Heilmann-Clausen & Christensen 2005: Biological Conservation (310 logs in 12 sites)

9 Indicators for conservation value the Danish system (2000) 2000: 30 sites with five or more indicators 2006: 56 sites with five or more indicators Number of indicators (42 in total): >

10 Indicators, forest history and beech forest reserves Larger (>50 ha) forest reserves in Danmark: Forests remaining in Denmark about 1800

11 No. species per log Share of records Diversity and conservation values in Europe 20% Species of Special Conservation Interest 15% 10% 5% 0% All species Other spp. SSI C SSI B SSI A Nat-Man* EU 5 th Framework *Nature-based Management of beech forests in Europe Ódor et al. 2006, Biol. Cons. 131: (1009 logs in 19 sites)

12 Easting Community gradients in Europe DCA CCA Variation partitioning Decay +/- Equal importance of log, forest history and climate variables Forest history & climate confounded in geographical space... Heilmann-Clausen et al J. biogeogr. (1200 logs in 26 sites)

13 *Easting = gradient in continentality & naturalness Guild structure Trunk rotters favoured in presence of climatic stress - or vanished due to the lack of large decaying logs? Cord formers & late stage specialists favoured by disturbance - or sensitive to climatic stress? Heilmann-Clausen et al J. biogeogr. (1200 logs in 26 sites)

14 Meta-community structure and reserve age a Fill b Beta diversity c Nestedness Figure 4 Natural reserves never managed for timber Old reserves, Trees > 200 yrs Young reserves, Trees < 200 yrs Communities distinctly nested Virgin forests: Low and decreasing matrix fill + increasing beta-diversity with decay stage (and decreasing nestedness) Previously managed reserves: High matrix fill + low beta diversity in late decay stages Halme et al Biol. Conserv. (1200 logs in 26 sites)

15 Meta-community structure and reserve age Alpha- & beta-diversity increasingly inversely linked from early to late decay stages Decayed logs in natural forests have low alpha but high betadiversity Mechanisms: Priority-effects stronger in natural forests? Competitive, late stage specialists with large body size lacking in managed forests? Niches taken over by smaller, more oppurtunistic species? Halme et al Biol. Conserv. (1200 logs in 26 sites)

16 Extending coverage the Beech Boys 59 sites so far Effects of forest fragmentation Interactions between management and climate Postglacial dispersal + lichens, bryophytes and... beetles Phylogeography of Fagus and Fomes Beetle community structure Cluster analysis (UPGMA)

17 200 m Narrowing down: Gribskov project Differences man-made vs natural substrates Effects of habitat manipulations Habitat thresholds at local scale Effects of canopy gaps Cost-efficiency Træhuller x 15 Ring-barkning x 15 Basal brænding x 15

18 200 m Narrowing down: Gribskov project Differences man-made vs natural substrates Effects of habitat manipulations Habitat thresholds at local scale Effects of canopy gaps Cost-efficiency 5 ha experimental stand (x 5) 2 x Gap + downed log x 15 Cut hole x 15 Ring-barking x 15 Basal burn x 15

19 Future challenges: from pattern to process How do fungi establish in dead wood? How do habitat-changes affect fungal community structure? And is this resulting in: fundamental and consistent changes in community metrics? changes in ecosystem functioning? cascade effects in food-webs? How can we assess this? by fungal traits? Thanks for your attention! by combining fruitbody based studies with edna approaches by transcriptonics? by cross-taxa studies?