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Mediterranean Cistus ladanifer scrublands can provide an important fungal production, often in high demand. However, due to the pyrophytic characteristics of this species, forest fires are the main threat to these ecosystems. The aim of the study is to analyze the effects of different fuel reduction treatments on C. ladanifer scrublands on production and diversity of fungal communities in order to enhance mushroom production and diversity and prevent forest fires. Sporocarp sampling was carried out on a weekly basis during autumnal production periods between 2010 and 2013. Twenty-seven plots (100 m 2 ) were established in scrublands of different age and origin: (a) a middle-age scrubland (8 years old) whose origin was a forest fire, (b) a middle-age scrubland (8 years old) whose origin was the total clearing of the previous stand, and (c) a senescent scrubland (20 years old). Considered fuel reduction treatments were total clearing, 50% clearing and controlled burning. All the sporocarps were identified and fresh and dry weighed. A total of 63,436 sporocarps belonging to 157 taxa within 64 genera were collected during the four years’ sampling. Higher total fungal fresh weight production was found in middle-aged compared with senescent scrublands. After the 50% clearing, production, diversity and species composition of fungal communities were very similar to the control plots in which no treatment was performed. It seemed to be the most appropriate treatment for the production of edible species, especially Boletus edulis and this treatment may also reduce fire intensity and severity. Furthermore, total clearing favors the fructification of new species, especially saprotrophic ones. Therefore, in this study, the rejuvenation of senescent scrublands and the alternation of different fuel reduction treatments in middle-aged stands seemed to be the best management guidelines for the sustainable management of this resource. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Wildfires are the major disturbance in Mediterranean ecosystems affecting both vegetation and fungal communities. After fire, fungal communities follow succession patterns mainly driven by the dynamics of post-fire plant communities. The aim of this study is to analyze post-fire fungal succession in a Mediterranean ecosystem dominated by Cistus ladanifer in northwestern Spain. Sporocarps were collected and identified on a weekly basis during the autumn season from 2003 to 2006 in 100m2 plots located in recently burned plots (early stage) and mature stands (late stage). 146 fungal taxa were found during the 4-year sampling (56 late stage only and 23 early stage only). There was a shift in the taxa composition of fungal community during C. ladanifer succession. Several taxa such as Coprinus spp. and Pholiota carbonaria were found in the early stage of the succession, whereas late stage taxa like Lepista spp. or Conocybe spp. fruited in the last years of succession. Cistus-specific taxa such as Entoloma cistophilum, Hebeloma cistophilum and Lactarius cistophilus were classified as multi-stage taxa as they were able to fruit in both early and late stages. Furthermore, several mycorrhizal taxa, usually associated with mature forest tree stands, were able to fruit much earlier in C. ladanifer scrublands. According to the results of this study, these ecosystems, traditionally considered ecologically and economically unproductive, seem to exhibit significant levels of fungal richness and can play an important role in diversity conservation as well as acting as a bridge for mycorrhizal inoculum in the recovery of forest stands after fire. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: This study examined the succession of fungal communities following fire in a Mediterranean ecosystem dominated by Pinus pinaster Ait. in northwestern Spain. A large wildfire occurred in August 2002. During the autumn seasons from 2003 to 2006, fruiting bodies were collected and identified, production in burned (early stage) and unburned (late stage) areas was measured. For statistical analysis, data were grouped into the following four categories: saprotrophic, mycorrhizal; edible and inedible. A total of 115 fungal taxa were collected during the four sampling periods (85 in the late and 60 in the early stage). The number of mycorrhizal species increased from early to late succession and there were shifts in community composition. After fire, pyrophytic species such as Pholiota carbonaria, Peziza violacea, Rhizopogon luteolus and Rhizopogon sp. appeared. Fire strongly affected the production of fungal species in the studied area. Thus, yields in the early stage treatment were significantly lower than those observed in the late stage. Total fungal fresh weight decreased from 209.95kgfwha−1 in the late stage to 162.45kgfwha−1in the early stage when richness and production of mycorrhizal species and production of edible fungi were significantly lower. Fresh weight for saprotrophic and inedible species was higher than for mycorrhizal fungi in the early stage treatment. The results obtained can be useful to forest managers for optimization of management and harvesting of these increasingly appreciated non-timber resources. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The aim of this work was to study and describe fungal communities in different habitats in dry Mediterranean areas. The objective was to determine whether artificial reforestations can develop fungal communities as productive and diverse as those found in natural stands. The results could provide ecological and economical implications for forest management in marginal areas, in order to recover the original forest dominated by Quercus, establishing as intermediate stage new forest stands dominated by Pinus which might play an essential role in restoring some type of degraded or marginal areas. Reforestations in degraded soils in abandoned farmlands were dominated by Pinus pinaster, P. sylvestris and P. halepensis whereas natural forest stands were dominated by Quercus pyrenaica, Q. faginea and Populus nigra. During the autumn mushroom season of 2003, fruiting bodies found in the plots were identified, and production, mycological richness, diversity were measured. Individual sporocarps (7841), classified into 136 taxa, were collected and classified according to functional groups (mycorrhizal and saprotrophic), edibility, as well as commercial importance in the study area. In Pinus plots, sporocarps collected (4506), were classified into 84 different taxa, 32 mycorrhizal and 52 saprotrophic. Eleven of the total collected taxa were classified as edible fungi; and 8 of them are marketed in the studied area. In Quercus plots, 1277 sporocarps were collected, classified into 46 taxa, 17 mycorrhizal and 29 saprotrophic fungi. Eleven species were edible and four marketed in the region. In Populus plots, 2058 sporocarps were classified into 28 taxa. Seven were classified as mycorrhizal and 21 as saprotrophic. Twelve were classified as edible fungi; and four species are marketed in the area. Differences were found for richness variables, comparing mean values for host genus. Thus, values in Pinus plots were higher than in Quercus plots. In relation with fungal production, an average plot yield of 340.51kgha−1 fresh weight was found in Pinus plots. Fresh weight average plot production was 56.6kgha−1 and 226.2kgha−1 in Quercus and Populus plots respectively. Fresh weight production of edible taxa was found to be higher in Pinus and Populus plots than in Quercus stands. Artificial reforestations play an essential role in Mediterranean ecosystems avoiding soil losses and desertification of large areas in order to recover the original forest. They also may provide fungal production and diversity as high as those found in natural forest stands. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]