Interspecific interactions of wood-decomposing fungi with epiphytic lichens and mosses

Abstract

(Ach.) Schaerer, Cl. coniocraea (Florke) Spreng., Cl. fimbriata (L.) Fr., Evernia mesomorpha Nyl., Mycoblastus sanguinarius (L.) Norman, Hypogymnia physodes (L.) Nyl., Parmelia sulcata Tayl., Platismatia glauca (L.) W. Culb. et C. Culb., Usnea spp., and Vulpicida pinastri (Scop.) J.-E. Mattson et M.J. Lai. For mosses, the total frequency of contact between gametophytes and fungal fruiting bodies was estimated. In each test area, 100 units of substrate with fruiting bodies of F. fomentarius and 50 units of substrate with fruiting bodies of F. pinicola were examined. The analysis of occurrence of fruiting bodies on substrates with different degrees of decomposition showed that F. fomentarius and F. pinicola formed fruiting bodies mainly on wood of the second and third degrees of decomposition (figure). Up to 97% of F. fomentarius fruiting bodies and 99% of F. pinicola fruiting bodies were formed on substrates with less than 20% lichen coverage, and up to 84% of fruiting bodies of both species were found on wood substrates where lichens occupied only 1‐5%. On tree trunks with fruiting bodies, moss coverage was also low: 73‐83% of F. fomentarius and 64‐90% of F. pinicola fruiting bodies were on substrates with no more than 5% of the total area occupied by mosses. Only in the Basegi Reserve did 60% of substrates with