Fungal sporocarp mediated losses of Ca, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, N, P, and Zn from conifer logs in the early stages of decomposition

Abstract

The export of mass and nutrients associated with the formation of fungal sporocarps during the first 7 years of decomposition of logs of four conifer species (Abiesamabilis Dougl. ex Forbes, Pseudotsugamenziesii (Mirb.) Franco, Thujaplicata D. Don, and Tsugaheterophylla (Raf.) Sarg.) was investigated in western Oregon. Abundance of the most common fungal species, Naematolomacapnoides (Fr.:Fr.) P. Kumm, differed significantly with log species; the fungus was most abundant on Abies and least abundant on Thuja. Fungi increased concentrations of N, K, and P over those found in associated logs by as much as 38, 115, and 136 times, respectively. Thus, a fair proportion of the initial N (0.9–2.9%), K (1.8–4.5%), and P (1.9–6.6%) was transported out of logs via sporocarps at a time when immobilization would have been predicted from critical element ratios (e.g., C/N).