The role of aphyllophoroid macromycetes as indicators of forest ecosystem disruption and reducers of biomass accumulation

Abstract

Aphyllophoroid macromycetes are a key link in natural and artificial biocenoses, in particular, forest ecosystems. Their peculiarity is due to the variety of morphological forms and the ability to colonise various substrates. The establishment of fundamental issues of the biotic organisation of this group of fungi, which considers both their specific features and integration into general ecological patterns, forms the necessary basis for their further research, protection, and practical use (in particular, when indicating and monitoring the state of forest biocenoses). The purpose of the study was to establish the species composition, taxonomic structure, and distribution (by mycohorizons) of aphyllophoroid macromycetes of forest stands in Zhytomyr Polissia. In the course of the study, classical phytopathological and forestry-inventory (biometric) analysis methods were used. Special methods of mycology, in particular, mycoindication, were also used in terms of identifying and examining aphyllophoroid macromycetes. Mycoflora of aphyllophoroid macromycetes of forest stands of Zhytomyr Polissia has 27 species belonging to 17 families, 8 orders of the Agaricomycetes class of the Basidiomycota division and is typical for the European temperate zone. The systematic component of the group under study is represented by the following orders: Polyporales (40.7% of their total number), Hymenochaetales (18.5%), Agaricales (14.8%), Russulales (11.2%), Cantharellales, Thelephorales, Auriculariales, and Gomphales (3.7% each). Analysis of the food structure of aphyllophoroid macromycetes shows that most of the mycoflora is represented by a complex of saproxilotrophic species, to a lesser extent parasite fungus (for example, Inonotus hispidus, Phellinus robustus, Heterobasidion annosum) and humus saprotrophs (Thelephora terrestris) are noted. The distribution of macromycetes by mycohorizons identifies that more than 70% of all finds were located in the subsurface mycohorizon, and the root mycohorizon is characterised by the smallest number of finds and species of macromycetes. There is a gradual decrease in the species diversity of aphyllophoroid macromycetes in the forest edge areas, which demonstrates fundamentally different stages of forest ecosystem degradation processes. The investigation of historical relationships between woody plant species and aphyllophoroid macromycetes, which act as biological indicators of the state of forest ecosystems, will further allow forming the of “maps of disruption of the integrity of forest biocenoses” for the analysis of sanitary risks, which should be implemented in the practice of forest protection