Abstract
Forest management and fire suppression cause significant changes in the chemical and structural properties of living conifers, and consequently in the qualities of deadwood. This may have profound ecological implications, since the internal properties of deadwood influence the competitive ability and decaying capacity of wood-fungi. Many species of wood-fungi have declined for unknown reasons, but it is possible that some are dependent on fire-affected wood or other deadwood qualities resulting from natural forest dynamics, such as wood from suppressed or old trees. Further, forestry-related changes in deadwood properties may imply significant changes in its decomposition rate, which affects the total CO2 emission from forest ecosystems. In fact, preliminary studies suggest that deadwood from managed forests decompose considerably faster than deadwood from natural forests. The proposed research aims to clarify whether there are threatened wood-fungi that are dependent on deadwood qualities that are rare or declining in managed boreal forests, and whether forestry-induced changes in deadwood qualities affect overall fungal decay rates. This has relevance for carbon dynamics in managed boreal forests, and may increase our understanding of why many red-listed species of wood-fungi are confined to forests governed by natural dynamics. The research has implications for conservation, management and restoration of boreal forests.
Sweden