Macrofungal assemblages of Sitka spruce and Scots pine plantations in north
ern Britain were compared to those of semi-natural pine and oak woodlands,
with a focus on threatened pinewood taxa. Fungal species-richness and speci
es-composition were related to climate, soil, vegetation and stand variable
s across a range of crop stages. Altogether, 419 species were recorded (12
parasites, 76 wood saprotrophs, 174 mycorrhizal species, 157 litter saprotr
ophs). There were no differences in fungal species-richness between plantat
ions and semi-natural woodlands nor any effects of crop species age or type
. Significant positive correlations were recorded between fungal species-ri
chness and ground vegetation diversity, and between wood saprotroph-richnes
s and fallen deadwood volume. Each crop species type had a distinctive myco
ta related to differences in climate, tree and vegetation diversity. Over-m
ature stands had a higher proportion of "late-successional" mycorrhizal spe
cies than the other growth stages. Nineteen Red Data list fungi species wer
e recorded; plots nearer to semi-natural pinewood areas had a higher number
of species records. These results highlight the importance of planted fore
sts as a habitat for native fungi. Habitat value could be further enhanced
through increasing the area of "old-growth" non-intervention reserves, and
locating these reserves near existing semi-natural woodland fragments. (C)
2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.