Prescribed Burning Effects on Production and Nutrient Composition of Fleshy Fungi

Abstract

The influence of prescribed burning on production and nutrient quality of fleshy fungi were studied on 4 areas burned in March 1981 and 4 unburned control areas in an eastern Texas pine (Pinus spp.)-hardwood forest. Fleshy fungi were collected weekly from both treatments from April 1981 through March 1983. Nutrient analyses were conducted to determine average monthly crude protein, phosphorus, and calcium levels. Neither yield nor nutrient composition of fleshy fungi was significantly different (P > 0.05) between treatments. Overstory and understory species composition were similar in all areas, which may have minimized the effects of fire because vascular plants may serve as hosts for ectomycorrhizal fungi. The consistently high levels of protein (>19%) and phosphorus (>0.37%) indicate that fleshy fungi are potentially important nutrient sources for wildlife. This study indicated that fire does not alter production or nutrient quality of fleshy fungi. J. WILDL. MANAGE. 51(1):258-262 Fungi play an important role in forest ecosystems. The fleshy fruiting bodies of fungi, commonly called mushrooms, are food sources for deer, small mammals, birds, and insects (Harlow and Hooper 1971, Maser et al. 1978, Radford 1983, Grimaldi and Jaenike 1984, McIntire 1984). The importance of fleshy fungi as a food component may be due to their high nutrient content (Fogel and Trappe 1978, Blair et al. 1984). Fungi also are instrumental in the forest's nutrient cycling process as primary decomposers and mycorrhizal formers (Harvey et al. 1980, Fogel and Hunt 1983, France and Reid 1983, Miller 1983, Parke et al. 1983). Prescribed burning is a common management technique used to control mid-story forest vegetation, but the influences of burning on the production and nutrient quality of fleshy fungi are little understood. The purpose of this 2-year study was to determine the influence of prescribed burning on production and nutrient quality of fleshy fungi. We sincerely thank C. Maser, R. Fogel, R. A. Tabor, and J. C. Huntley for comments and constructive criticism leading to improvement of this manuscript. The South. For. Exp. Stn. is maintained in cooperation with the School For., Stephen F. Austin State Univ., Nacogdoches, Tex.