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This study investigated the response patterns of aboveground macrofungal communities to different management stages representing a forest conversion from Norway spruce (Picea abies) to European beech (Fagus sylvatica) in the Eifel National Park, Germany. We used a space-for-time substitution approach with three replicate study sites for each forest conversion stage: (I) even-aged single species Norway spruce, (II) unmanaged Norway spruce windthrow, (III) salvage-logged Norway spruce windthrow, (IV) single Norway spruce tree selection cutting (close-to-nature managed) with European beech underplanting and (V) old-growth, uneven-aged European beech (as reference). We assessed environmental variables and macrofungal sporocarps, while the latter were categorized into functional groups to link taxonomic information to potential ecosystem functions. Overall, we observed 235 macrofungal species. The highest species richness was found in the European beech reference stage, followed by the close-to-nature managed spruce/beech stage, while the Norway spruce stage showed approximately half the species richness, similar to the species level of both windthrow stages. Non-metric multidimensional scaling (NMDS) ordination separated each forest conversion stage into distinct fungal communities, while both windthrow stages could not be distinguished from each other. Beside tree species composition change and forest management, nutrient availability and microclimate were the main drivers of fungal community changes among the five differently-managed stages. Further, different functional groups responded in different patterns to forest management and to explanatory environmental variables. We reinforced the assumption, that old-growth, uneven-aged European beech forests (>120 years) can act as a refugium for unique forest type specific fungal communities with a higher functional structure, especially contrary to non-native, even-aged Norway spruce forests (∼70 years). Single Norway spruce tree selection cutting with further introduction of European beech trees can be an adequate strategy to allow a spruce forest conversion without necessarily reducing the macrofungal species richness and its functional structure. We displayed that ecological consequences of windthrow events can be a depression of fungal species richness and a collapse for the functional structure of fungi, especially after salvage logging. Our study underlines the need of including fungal conservation in forest conversion plans to optimize forest ecosystem integrity and resilience against biotic and abiotic agents, such as windstorm events.

This dataset includes 235 aboveground macrofungal species observed at 15 sampling sites, which are associated with five different forest conversion stages. We used a space-for-time substitution approach to represent a forest conversion from Norway spruce (Picea abies) to European beech (Fagus sylvatica) through three different, widely used management practices. In addition to the results of 75 macrofungal field surveys, this data article includes information about site characteristics, vegetation structure, and observation frequencies. A multivariate statistic and myco-ecological interpretation of the macrofungal dataset is presented in an associated research article entitled “Forest conversion from Norway spruce to European beech increases species richness and functional structure of aboveground macrofungal communities” (Heine et al., 2019) [1] .

Analyzing fungal diversity and community composition through environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding and high-throughput sequencing relies on sequence databases and their taxonomic coverage which are often doubted in regards of data accuracy. To assess the potential of eDNA metabarcoding to distinguish differently managed forest conversion stages, we compared an extant morphological dataset created through sporocarp surveys with a metabarcoding dataset from the same study sites. The study was conducted along a spruce forest conversion project of Norway spruce towards European beech in the Eifel National Park in Germany. Using the UNITE ITS reference database, a total of 198 fungal operational taxonomic units (OTUs) were assigned up to the species level. Comparing the morphological and metabarcoding dataset, a low species overlap was observed with 27 shared fungi. The metabarcoding dataset revealed that all investigated forest conversion management stages shared beech-associated fungi (even the spruce forests), while within the morphological dataset, only the beech-inhabiting forest conversion management stages showed beech-associated fungi. The metabarcoding dataset could not show the same fungal community response patterns on the spruce forest conversion, compared to the morphological dataset, but revealed the genetic refugium of the soil fungal community. We conclude that fungal eDNA metabarcoding should always be evaluated by taxonomic experts to identify potential sequence database errors. eDNA metabarcoding cannot be used interchangeably for morphological community analyses to identify response patterns of fungal communities on forest management strategies. However, both approaches performed well in combination and showed that beech-associated fungal communities with high functional redundancy can develop after a spruce forest conversion by restoring natural European beech forests with an appropriate close-to-nature management strategy.

We assessed the risk of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) transmission from heterosexual seropositive hemophilic men to their female sex partners through an HIV serosurvey and questionnaire study conducted during 1984-1987. Five percent of 21 female partners of asymptomatic men and 11% of 35 partners of HIV-symptomatic (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome [AIDS], AIDS-related complex [ARC], peripheral generalized lymphadenopathy [PGL]) hemophilic men had been infected when first tested. One of 19 seronegative women tested about 1 year later reportedly seroconverted. Only 18% of a sample of the serosurvey women responding to sex practices questions said their partners used condoms "nearly always." Over 60% engaged in oral/genital sex in addition to vaginal intercourse. Only 12% of still-seronegative women followed the preventive strategy of consistent avoidance of oral/genital sex, together with consistent condom use by the male partner. Further evidence for heterosexual transmission comes from the CDC national AIDS surveillance reports showing 25 women who acquired HIV infection through heterosexual contact with U.S. hemophilic men (September 6, 1988). Seven (28%) were diagnosed and reported in the first 6 months of 1988. Their ages range from 20 years to more than 70 years. The dates of infection for the women are unknown but must have been at least 5 years before AIDS diagnosis for at least one. Only approximately 30% of their male partners had already manifested any HIV-associated illness. Through May 18, 1988, six cases of AIDS have occurred in children whose infection was acquired through exposure of the mother to a hemophilic partner. Four were diagnosed in latter 1987. The median age at diagnosis was 4.5 months. Four had died. None of their mothers is as yet diagnosed.