Lakehead University Knowledge Commons,http://knowledgecommons.lakeheadu.ca Electronic Theses and Dissertations Undergraduate theses 2020 Mycoparasites and decay fungi: a study of their ecological interactions on wood blocks of Betula papyrifera Rea, Emily Caitlin http://knowledgecommons.lakeheadu.ca/handle/2453/4625 Downloaded from Lakehead University, KnowledgeCommons MYCOPARASITES AND DECAY FUNGI: A STUDY OF THEIR ECOLOGICAL INTERACTIONS ON WOOD BLOCKS OF BETULA PAPYRIFERA by Emily Caitlin Rea FACULTY OF NATURAL RESOURCES MANAGEMENT LAKEHEAD UNIVERSITY THUNDER BAY, ONTARIO April 2020 ii MYCOPARASITES AND DECAY FUNGI: A STUDY OF THEIR ECOLOGICAL INTERACTIONS ON WOOD BLOCKS OF BETULA PAPYRIFERA by Emily Caitlin Rea An Undergraduate Thesis Submitted in Partial Fulfilment of the Requirements for the Degree of Honours Bachelor of Science in Forestry Faculty of Natural Resources Management Lakehead University April 2020 Major Advisor Second Reader iii LIBRARY RIGHTS STATEMENT In presenting this thesis in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the HBScF degree at Lakehead University in Thunder Bay, I agree that the University will make it freely available for inspection. This thesis is made available by my authority solely for the purpose of private study and research and may not be copied or reproduced in whole or in part (except as permitted by the Copyright Laws) without my written authority. Signature: Date: iv A CAUTION TO THE READER This HBScF thesis has been through a semi-formal process of review and comment by at least two faculty members. It is made available for loan by the Faculty of Natural Resources Management for the purpose of advancing the practice of professional and scientific forestry. The reader should be aware that the opinions and conclusions expressed in this document are those of the student and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the thesis supervisor, the Faculty of Natural Resources Management or Lakehead University. v ABSTRACT Rea, E.C. 2020. Mycoparasites and decay fungi: A study of their ecological interactions on wood blocks of Betula papyrifera. 45 + x Pp. Keywords: Betula papyrifera, decay fungi, Fomitopsis pinicola, Gliocladium roseum mycoparasites, Piptoporus betulinus, Trametes pubescens, Trichaptum biforme, Trichothecium roseum, Sesquicillium candelabrum, Verticillium tenerum. Decay fungi are an extremely important part of the forest ecosystem and provide essential ecosystem services including the breakdown of complex organic compounds and nutrient release. However, this important group of fungi are predated upon by mycoparasites; fungi which feed on other fungi. This study was conducted to examine the ecological interactions between various mycoparasites on selected species of wood decay fungi in relation to the level of decay observed in birchwood blocks, Betula papyrifera. Four species of wood decay fungi were chosen: Trametes pubescens, Trichaptum biforme, Fomitopsis pinicola, and Piptoporus betulinus to be tested with four different mycoparasites: Gliocladium roseum, Verticillium tenerum, Trichothecium roseum, and Sesquicillium candalabrum. Trametes pubescens exhibited the greatest average percent (%) decay overall with 56.35%, and could only be reduced to 41.68% in combination with Gliocladium roseum. Verticillium tenerum reduced average percent (%) decay to 5.46% when paired with Fomitopsis pinicola, but Gliocladium roseum and Sesquicillium candalabrum were observed to be the most consistent and successful in wood decay mitigation across all treatment combinations. The presence of mycoparasites negatively affects the overall ability of wood decay fungi to breakdown woody compounds, however, some are more successful than others, and some species of decay fungi show great resilience when faced with predation. Both entities perform essential ecosystem services. vi CONTENTS ABSTRACT ...................................................................................................................... v TABLE OF TABLES ..................................................................................................... viii TABLE OF FIGURES ..................................................................................................... ix ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS .............................................................................................. x INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................ 1 WOOD DECAY ........................................................................................................... 1 White-rot ................................................................................................................... 1 Brown rot .................................................................................................................. 2 Soft rot ....................................................................................................................... 2 WHAT FUNGI ARE INVOLVED IN WOOD DECAY? ............................................ 3 ECOLOGICAL ROLE OF WOOD DECAY FUNGI .................................................. 4 DIFFICULTIES DECAY FUNGI FACE ..................................................................... 5 Microclimatic conditions .......................................................................................... 5 Nutrient requirements................................................................................................ 7 Presence of tannins and other chemicals ................................................................... 8 Grazing by mycophagous vertebrates and invertebrates ........................................... 9 MYCOPARASITISM ................................................................................................. 10 OBJECTIVE ............................................................................................................... 12 HYPOTHESIS ............................................................................................................ 13 MATERIALS AND METHODS .................................................................................... 14 WOOD BLOCK PREPARATION ............................................................................. 14 BOTTLE PREPARATION ......................................................................................... 14 INNOCULATION OF DECAY FUNGI AND MYCOPARASITES ........................ 14 HARVESTING THE BLOCKS .................................................................................. 17 STATISTICAL ANALYSIS ....................................................................................... 18 RESULTS ....................................................................................................................... 20 DISCUSSION ................................................................................................................. 27 TRAMETES PUBESCENS ..........................................................................................29 TRICHAPTUM BIFORME.......................................................................................... 30 FOMITOPSIS PINICOLA ........................................................................................... 31 PIPTOPORUS BETULINUS ....................................................................................... 32 GLIOCLADIUM ROSEUM ......................................................................................... 32 vii VERTICILLIUM TENERUM ...................................................................................... 33 TRICHOTHECIUM ROSEUM ................................................................................... 34 SESQUICILLIUM CANDALABRUM ......................................................................... 35 CONCLUSIONS ............................................................................................................. 36 LITERATURE CITED ................................................................................................... 38 APPENDIX ..................................................................................................................... 41 APPENDIX II ................................................................................................................. 44 APPENDIX III ................................................................................................................ 45 viii TABLE OF TABLES Table 1. Experimental design 17 Table 2. Summary of average results 22 Table 3. Results of univariate analysis 23 Table 4. Treatments with their corresponding LSD groups based on average % decay 24 ix TABLE OF FIGURES Figure 1. Inoculation work station 17 Figure 2. Author inoculating bottles aseptically 17 Figure 3. Percent (%) decay per treatment with LSD groups listed 26 Figure 4. Comparison of mycoparasite success in limiting % decay 26 with LSD groups listed x ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Firstly, I’d like to thank my thesis supervisor, Dr. Leonard Hutchison. Dr. H has been my mentor and favourite teacher during my time here at Lakehead University, and I am very thankful to have him as my supervisor for this thesis project. His patience, resilience, and passion for his occupation is inspiring, and he hopes to instill a love of learning for forest pathology and mycology in all of his students. Secondly, I’d like to thank my second reader, Dr. Lense Meyer, for taking the time to read over my thesis. Thirdly, I’d like to thank my parents for always pushing me to do my best,