Cent. Eur. J. Biol. • 7(4) • 2012 • 634-647 DOI: 10.2478/s11535-012-0050-3 Central European Journal of Biology Macrofungal diversity in disturbed vegetation types in North-East Hungary Research Article Kinga Rudolf1,*, Tamás Morschhauser1, Ferenc Pál-Fám2 ¹Department of Plant Taxonomy and Geobotany, University of Pécs, H-7624 Pécs, Hungary ²Department of Botany and Plant Production, University of Kaposvár, H-7400 Kaposvár, Hungary Received 16 January 2012; Accepted 16 April 2012 Abstract: Macrofungi play an extraordinarily important role in the catalysis of the nutrient cycle of deciduous and coniferous forests. Habitat degradation adversely influences the number of fruiting bodies of macrofungi and diminishes the diversity of the fungal community. The diversity of the terricolous- and lignicolous macrofungi assemblages were compared in stands of semi-natural and two plant associations modified by humans in different degrees in North-East Hungary. We used data from 15 permanent plots that were sampled for vascular plants and macrofungi. Rank-abundance curves and Rényi’s diversity profiles were applied for diversity research. The results indicated that structure and diversity of the terricolous macrofungi assemblages were mainly influenced by climatic and habitat conditions and the degradation of the plant associations to a lesser degree. The diversity of lignicolous macrofungi was primarily affected by the continuous presence, quality, and quantity of deadwood. Accordingly, the form and degree of forest management, as well as the age of the growing stocks, influenced community structure. If nature conservation planning and conservation activity are based on those biodiversity indicators which are good proxies for macrofungi biodiversity, the latter might be optimal for preserving macrofungi biodiversity. Keywords: Cserehát • Diversity of terricolous- and lignicolous macrofungi • Community structure • Habitat degradation © Versita Sp. z o.o. 1. Introduction “broken stick” distribution [21]. Rank-abundance curves for comparison of macrofungi assemblages have been The most important factors caused by man that used only in a few cases [20,22], whereas it is a well- influence the decrease of biodiversity are degradation, known method of the disturbance research for other reconstruction, fragmentation and over-utilisation of taxa (i.e. vascular plants [23]). habitats, introduction of alien species as well as the The present paper compares the diversity of the spreading of infectious diseases [1]. Macrofungi play terricolous- and lignicolous macrofungi assemblages an extraordinarily important role in the catalysis of the in stands of a semi-natural-and two plant associations nutrient cycle of deciduous and coniferous forests, by transformed by man in different degrees. which increase their fitness [2-8]. Habitat degradation adversely influences the number of fruitbodies of macrofungi and diminishes the diversity of the fungal 2. Experimental Procedures community [9-12]. Some surveys have been dealt with composition and diversity of macrofungi assemblages in 2.1 Study area different vegetation types using different diversity indices Our area of investigation was the Cserehát, a hilly and statistic methods [13-20] The communities which landscape in North-East Hungary. The landscape is are rich in species can be characterized log-normal or dominated by agricultural cultivation. Its zonal forest * E-mail: [email protected] 634 K. Rudolf et al. associations are the Turkey oak forests (Quercetum 2.3 Methods of data analysis petraeae-cerris) in lower altitude terrains and Oak forests We have investigated the diversity of terricolous- and with tatarian maple (Aceri tatarici-Quercetum roboris) lignicolous macrofungi communities of one semi-natural in higher altitude [24]. The forest vegetation has been and two other vegetation types transformed by man fragmented as a result of excessive forest management, in different degrees in the Cserehát. Rank-abundance hunting and grazing. The area is characterized by alien curves prepared based on the data of the different tree plantations with invasive plant species in the herb sampling plots were compared as suggested by layer. The climate is rather cool with 8-8.5°C annual Whittaker [31]. The numbers of fruitbodies of terricolous- mean temperature. The annual mean precipitation is and lignicolous macrofungi were analyzed separately about 600 mm, with over 400 mm falling during the because of the different properties of these groups. vegetation season. The most characteristic soil type All analyses were done by the NuCoSa package [32]. is brown forest soil with clay illuviation on loess [25]. Scale-dependent characterization of diversity, based on The sample sites are situated 50-80 km from the city the data of sampling plots, was carried out by Rényi’s of Miskolc, at 200-250 m altitude above the sea level generalized entropy-type diversity profile calculation, near the villages Irota, Szendrőlád and Büdöskútpuszta. which can be used for communities of small and big The Irota sample site can be found between 48°24’N numbers of species alike [32]. In both cases the log RTS latitude and 20°52’E longitude, the Szendrőlád site (Right-Tail-Sum) function have been also used [33]. The between 48°20’N latitude and 20°44’E longitude, the rate of the disturbance indicator species in the plant Büdöskútpuszta site between 48°22’N latitude and samples was calculated using species categorization 20°44’E longitude. of Social Behaviour Types [34]. It measures the level of degradation caused by human activities or natural 2.2 Sampling processes and indicated by changes in species 15 sample plots (625 m²/plot) were selected and composition. The categories of degradation were marked as three different vegetation types. The applied according to Morschhauser [35] (Figures 1-2). phytocoenological samples were made in spring-and summer aspect, in 2004-2005. In each plots the plant 2.4 The investigated vegetation types species have been recorded and their cover has been We investigated the semi-natural stand of a beech visually estimated separately in the herb, shrub, and forest, an Oak wood-pasture, and Norway spruce canopy layer [26]. The nomenclature for vascular plants plantation which have been anthropogenically modified has been used following the work of Simon [27]. Fungi in various degrees. were sampled 2004-2006, between July-November In Cserehát, the beech forest is rare. It is found only on 6-8 occasions in each year. Measuring species in extrazonal-edafic habitat. The investigated beech abundance all macrofungi species have been recorded forest stand (Melittio-Fagetum Soó 1964 emend. 1971) and the fruitbodies of all species have been counted in is situated on a steep north slope. Its soil type is shallow the plots. Species names were used following the work brown rendzina with calcareous screes. It is a old-growth of Krieglsteiner [28,29] and the Index Fungorum [30]. forest in which the growing stock belongs to several age 60 50 40 30 deg % 20 10 0 p 3 Nsp 5 Nsp 4 Nsp 1 Nsp 2 Nsp 3 Owp 4 Owp 2 Owp 5 Owp 1 Ow Beech fBeech 1 fBeech 4 f 3 Beech f 2 Beech f 5 plots Figure 1. Degradation of sample plots. Explanations: Deg % - Degradation %; Beech f-Beech forest; Nsp-Norway spruce plantation; Owp - Oak- wood pasture.Degradation categories: natural: 0-20%; degraded in small degree: 20-30%; degraded in average degree: 30-50%. 635 Macrofungal diversity in disturbed vegetation types in North-East Hungary 50 as well as Carex pallescens. The Oak wood-pasture 45 is degraded to an average degree on the basis of 40 proportion of degradation categories. 35 The Norway spruce stand (Piceetum cultum) Deg 30 % 25 examined has been planted in the place of a hornbeam- 20 oak forest. The soil type is brown forest soil with clay 15 illuvation on loess. Its growing stock belongs to one age 10 5 group, which is about 30-40 years. The rate of standing 0 deadwood and stumps is high, about 15%. The cover Beech f Nsp Owp of fallen deadwood decomposed in different degrees Vegetation types is significant, above 5%. The stand has two canopy layers, dominated by Picea abies, but indigenous Figure 2. Rate of degradation in the investigated vegetation types. Explanations: Deg % - Degradation %; Beech tree species (Acer pseudoplatanus, Carpinus betulus, f-Beech forest; Nsp-Norway spruce plantation; Owp - Cerasus avium, Fagus sylvatica, Populus tremula and Oakwoodpasture. Tilia platyphyllos) appear in some places in the habitat. groups. Physiognomy of the stand can be characterized Because of tightly closed canopy the shrub layer is by 150-years-old trees. The stand hasn’t been managed absent in most of the plots. The herb layer has low by the forestry department because of its soil protecting species number and coverage. It consists of young role, therefore stump and deadwood decomposed in individuals of species of the canopy layer and of several different degrees. The cover of fallen deadwood is 1-5%. shade-tolerant species: Anthriscus sylvestris, Asarum In the formed gaps natural saplings are developed. europaeum, Dentaria bulbifera, Moehringia trinervia. The canopy layer is dominated by Fagus sylvatica and Based on the proportion of degradation categories, the Carpinus betulus. In the gaps formed by the loss of old- Norway spruce plantation is minimally degraded. growth trees, the six meters shrub layer has significant Characterization of plant associations was made by coverage. Its dominant species are Acer campestre, Rudolf et al. [36], the naming of the plant associations Cornus mas, Tilia platyphyllos, however we can also was made on the basis of Borhidi [37]. find Carpinus betulus, Euonymus verrucosa, Fagus sylvatica, and Ulmus scabra. In the spring aspect the herb layer cover is dominated by Mercurialis perennis, 3. Results its summer aspect is characterized by shade-tolerant species: Aegopodium podagraria, Asarum europaeum, Among researched vegetation types the terricolous Convallaria majalis, Polygonatum multiflorum. On the macrofungi assemblage of the beech forest has the most basis of proportion of degradation categories the beech complicated structure which shows square dominance forest is considered natural.