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Published on: November 30, 2018
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Wind and small mammals are complementary fungal dispersers
Benjamin W Borgmann-Winter1, Ryan B Stephens1, Mark A Anthony2
1University of New Hampshire, Natural Resources and the Environment, Durham, New Hampshire, USA.
Ecology
|March 24, 2023
Summary
Fungal dispersal by wind and small mammals differs, with mammals dispersing more mycorrhizal fungi. These complementary pathways are crucial for forest recovery after disturbances like timber harvest.
Area of Science:
- Ecology
- Mycology
- Forest Science
Background:
- Fungal dispersal is vital for ecosystem structure and function after disturbances.
- Wind and mammal-mediated dispersal are key fungal pathways, but their complementarity is poorly understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare fungal diversity and morphology dispersed by wind versus small mammals in harvested forests.
- To determine if wind and mammal dispersal are redundant or complementary.
Main Methods:
- Microscopy and Illumina sequencing were used to analyze fungal communities.
- Fungi dispersed by wind and three rodent species were compared.
Main Results:
- Fungal communities differed significantly between wind and mammal dispersal.
- Wind dispersed mainly saprotrophs and pathogens; mammals dispersed mycorrhizal and soil fungi.
- Mammal-dispersed spores were larger than wind-dispersed spores.
Conclusions:
- Wind and small mammal dispersal are complementary, not redundant.
- Small mammals play a key role in dispersing mycorrhizal fungi post-disturbance.
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