THE EFFECTS OF SILVICULTURAL TREATMENTS ON OCCURRENCE OF MYCORRHIZAL SPOROCARPS IN A PINUS-CONTORTA FOREST - A PRELIMINARY-STUDY

A preliminary survey was conducted to evaluate the effects of thinning and clearcutting, followed by replanting, on mycorrhizal fungi. A tot al of 48 species of mycorrhizal fungi was recorded for the study site. Suillus brevipes and S. tomentosus were the dominant species. Data fr om the survey indicate that thinning reduced the total number of speci es as compared to an undisturbed stand. Some fungi were adversely affe cted by thinning while other were positively affected Members of the H ygrophoraceae appeared to be most susceptible to mild disturbance such as thinning. While clearcutting had a negative impact on the total nu mber of sporocarps of mycorrhizal fungi, Suillus brevipes increased in percent abundance as severity of disturbance increased. Copyright (C) 1996 Published by Elsevier Science Limited