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Fungi are important ecological agents in forests that contribute to increase the resilience of the whole ecosystem against environmental challenges. Mediterranean forests rank among the habitats most threatened by climate change and the spread of pests and diseases, which ultimately lead them into a spiral of decline. As such, changes in the composition of soil and trees' mycobiota might correlate with health status of the forest and has been scarcely addressed in Mediterranean tree species. In this work, rhizosphere and bark-wood samples from declining Spanish forests of Castanea sativa Mill. (chestnut), Quercus ilex L. (holm oak), Q. suber L. (cork oak) and Q. pyrenaica Willd. (Pyrenean oak) were compared. Fungal communities were characterised by means of ITS metabarcoding. Higher diversity in terms of richness was found in soil, with 674 genera belonging to 15 phyla in soil vs 420 genera and 6 phyla in trees. Fungal genera exclusive to declining forests' soils and trees didn't include pathogenic organisms, thus preventing the association of certain genera with forest decline. Alpha diversity didn't correlate with health status or sample type either, as it only increased in soils of asymptomatic chestnuts and not in any of the other analysed tree species. Some differentially abundant genera found in asymptomatic trees, such as Metarhizium , Aspergillus , Russula , Chaetomium , Mortierella or Cladophialophora , may be related to the biological control of decline-contributing pathogens. Finally, no relationship was found between health status and the primary lifestyles of fungi in soil and bark, which can be interpreted as a sign of resilience against adversities following cross-talk between soil and plant fungal communities. [Display omitted] • Trees and soil's mycobiota correlate with forests' health and has been scarcely addressed in Mediterranean ecosystems. • Rhizosphere and bark-wood samples from declining Spanish forests were collected. • Fungal communities were characterised by means of ITS metabarcoding. • Fungal genera found in asymptomatic trees could be related to biological control of decline-contributing pathogens. • Functional cross-talk between soil and plant fungal communities can be a sign of resilience against adversities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of wild ungulate density on ecosystems varies according to different factors: climate and physiography conditions, forest type, management history, and herbivore identity. In this study, we evaluated the effect of historically high densities of red deer (Cervus elaphus L.) on the soil fungal communities in Mediterranean ecosystems using 30 paired plots, open on the one hand and exclosure plots on the other one. Plots were established at the end of 2020 in a perimeter-fenced hunting estate of 6600 ha in Toledo, Spain. Three months after plots were established, we analysed fungal communities in 60 soil samples using Illumina 250-bp paired-end sequencing. We estimated changes in total fungal richness and in the richness of trophic groups through Linear Mixed Effects models using fenced/unfenced type and deer habitat use as fixed variables and the location of the plots and the main tree host species as random variables. Fungal composition was analysed using non-metric multidimensional scaling and permutational multivariate ANOVA; edaphic characteristics were incorporated to explain differences. Soil fungal communities were not differentially affected by excluding ungulates for three months. Areas with high deer densities had a richer saprotrophic community and where lowland environments were dominated by the main tree hosts Quercus faginea and Quercus ilex. Arbutus unedo was found in mountain areas where there was less herbivore pressure, a greater richness of ectomycorrhizal and lichenized fungi and soils positively associated to nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and organic matter levels. • High deer densities, have favoured a saprotrophic environment. • AM fungal communities were not altered by any of the studied variables. • The richness of ECM fungal communities was higher in areas with low deer pressure and in elevated areas. • The influence of pH was greater in stands with moderate or high deer pressure. • In stands with low to moderate deer pressure, fungal communities were influenced by N, P, K and organic matter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Eucalyptus tree species are widely used in Ethiopian plantations, but the impact of these plantations on the soil fungal communities is still unknown. We assessed the changes in diversity, species composition and ecological guilds of the soil fungal communities across tree ages of Eucalyptus grandis plantations by DNA metabarcoding of ITS2 amplicons. Changes in soil fungal species composition, diversity and ecological guilds were related to stand age but also to fertility changes. The relative abundance of saprotrophs and pathogens were negatively correlated with stand age, and positively with soil fertility. In contrast, the relative abundance and diversity of ectomycorrhizal species were higher in older, less fertile stands, including well-known cosmopolitan species but also species associated with Eucalyptus , such as Scleroderma albidum and Descomyces albellus. We show that soil fungal community changes are linked to progressive soil colonization by tree roots but are also related to soil fertility changes. • Soil fungal communities changes across stand age and soil fertility gradients. • Ectomycorrhizal species diversity and abundance increased with stand age. • Both cosmopolitan and Eucalyptus -associated ECM species increased with stand age. • Saprotrophs and pathogenic fungi increased in younger, more fertile stands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Ethiopia, plantation forestry is dominated by Eucalyptus tree species. However, there is a very limited knowledge on the associated flora, specifically any study focused on fungal flora is lacking. In this study, we investigated the fungal species diversity, composition and sporocarp production in relation to plantation age of Eucalyptus grandis stands in Southern Ethiopia. For this purpose, we surveyed nine plots (100 m 2 ) established in ten-, nineteen-, and thirty-seven years old E. grandis stands. We found a total of 29 fungal taxa belonging to Basidiomycota, with the exception of Xylaria hypoxylon which is Ascomycota. All the taxa collected were saprophytic and one third of them were classified as edible. Taxa richness, species composition, the Shannon diversity values, and sporocarp yield were positively correlated with plantation age. The PERMANOVA showed that the stands are significantly different (P < 0.05) in terms of their fungal species composition. An analysis of similarity percentage (SIMPER) also identified influential fungal taxa such as Lepiota aff. cristata and Marasmius sp. that best differentiated between paired stands. This preliminary study extends our knowledge of fungal community structure in plantation forests and provides a starting place in broadening Eucalyptus stands management objectives for Non Timber Forest Products (NTFPs) in the country, mainly of mushrooms that could provide complementary incomes for the rural people. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Boletus edulis Bull. is among the most valuable mushroom species worldwide. Cistus ladanifer L. scrublands host an extraordinarily high production of this profitable fungus. Its fructification varies greatly among years depending on factors such as stand age and density along with climatic variables. Important information is missing, however, on the dynamics of this species, particularly at the below-ground level and its correlation with sporocarp production. We sought to improve understanding of the ecology of this species that could allow prediction of B. edulis production using faster and less expensive procedures under forest management scenarios. Under the hypothesis that fire prevention management influences the presence of Boletus edulis mycelium and thus, the production of sporocarps, different management treatments were performed. These consisted of different levels of fuel reduction: (controlled burning, total clearing, 50% clearing, and uncleared), established in scrublands of different ages/origins (young-fire, young-cleared and senescent). To analyse B. edulis mycelium in the soil, soil samples were taken at three different times during the year, quantifying B. edulis DNA by real-time PCR using specific primers and Taq-man probes. To analyse B. edulis production, all sporocarps were collected and weighed on a weekly basis during the autumn season. Our results confirmed that management significantly influence quantities of B. edulis mycelium in soil and sporocarp yields that were highest in the uncleared plots and lowest in total clearing plots. Fifty percent clearing plots showed a significant recovery for both mycelium quantity and B. edulis yields after three years. Concerning the origin of the stand, young-fire plots had the highest amounts of B. edulis mycelium in the soil. A positive correlation was detected between B. edulis fresh weight production and the amount of mycelium in the soil suggesting the ability to predict B. edulis yields using faster and less costly methods than weekly inventories carried out for several autumn seasons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fire is among the main threats to forest ecosystems in Ethiopia and is affecting the forest biodiversity, including fungal communities. This study was aimed to examine the effects of fire on macrofungal taxa richness, diversity and sporocarp production in the Dry Afromontane forests in Ethiopia. Sporocarps were collected from nine plots (100 m 2 ) established in one- and ten-year-old burned stands, and in an unburned stands. The data were used to quantify fungal richness and sporocarp fresh weights. Morphological and molecular analyses were used to identify the fungi. Composite soil samples were also collected from each stand and used to determine main edaphic explanatory variables for taxa composition. A total of 61 fungal taxa, belonging to Basidiomycota division were reported, of which 22 were edible. Fungal diversity, richness and sporocarp production were affected just after the fire. Fungal community composition was significantly correlated with Organic matter, P and Ca. Generally, the result is encouraging from the point of view of fungal conservation. It provides novelty information about the macrofungal communities in Ethiopian dry Afromontane forests, likely including many taxa are still unknown to science as well as several edible species which could supply complementary incomes for the rural populations in the study area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fungal communities associated to conifers have been typically studied in temperate conifer forests, but little is known about tropical habitats. The present study examined the macrofungal succession and corresponding sporocarp production in Pinus patula stands in Ethiopia. For this purpose, we surveyed nine permanent plots (100 m 2 ) established in five-, eleven- and thirty-six years old P. patula plantations and estimated fungal taxa richness, diversity and sporocarp yields. Composite soil samples were also collected from each plot to determine explanatory edaphic variables for fungal taxa compositions. We found a total of 53 fungal taxa belonging to Basidiomycota , with the exception of Xylaria hypoxylon which is Ascomycota . The majority of the collected taxa were saprophytic and about 6% were ectomycorrhizal fungi. About 36% of the taxa were classified as edible. Taxa richness, the Shannon diversity index and sporocarp yields showed significant increasing trends towards the more mature P. patula stands. Fungal community composition was also correlated significantly with N, K, and pH. This study extends our knowledge on fungal diversity and community structure in managed P. patula plantations. Higher diversity and sporocarp production was found in older stands. Thus, the deliberate presence of mature trees in Pinus stands could provide incentives for the production and conservation of ecologically and commercially important fungal species in the study area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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]

• Metabarcoding study of soil fungi in Cistus ladanifer ecosystems. • Diverse edible species in the genera of Boletus , Lactarius , and Laccaria were found. • The total fungi diversity values were higher under a meso-Mediterranean climate type. • ECM taxa followed particular succession patterns in this short life cycle host. • Appropriate specific management can promote diversity conservation. Cistus ladanifer-dominated ecosystems are widely distributed in the Western Mediterranean basin and are affected by recurrent fires. Although these scrublands were traditionally considered unproductive, these systems provide significant ecological benefits via mushroom production, which has increased interest in better understanding these ecosystems to restore and promote productivity. We analyzed 48 plots located in Supra- and MesoMediterranean regions in western Spain to assess the soil fungal community and their ecological drivers using ITS2 rDNA Illumina Miseq. The study plots comprised young (early-stage successional stands), middle- (middle-stage successional stands), and late-stage stands. Shannon diversity index values for total fungi were higher under a MesoMediterranean than under a SupraMediterranean climate type, whereas the richness values for ectomycorrhizal (EcM) taxa were higher in late-stage stands than in the younger stands. EcM community composition was influenced by stand age, climatic variables and edaphic parameters. These C. ladanifer-dominated ecosystems support diverse fungi, including edible species such as Boletus , Lactarius , and Laccaria , under specific precipitation, temperature, and late-stage stand factor conditions. Although forest management cannot modify temperature and precipitation, management strategies that consider mosaic landscapes to reduce the severity of potential fires and that retain late successional stands could provide suitable habitats for promoting fungal diversity, production, and function in these scrubland systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite the assumption that mushroom fruiting is dependent on climate conditions, recent changes in temperature and precipitation regimes in Mediterranean-type ecosystems have opened new questions about how climate changes impact epigeous sporocarps yields. Here, we described the epigeous fungal sporocarp yield anomalies together with temperature and precipitation fluctuations that have triggered atypical fungal production peaks during the last 20 years in different forest ecosystems of Mediterranean Spain. We used the largest standardized, spatio-temporal epigeous sporocarp collection dataset available in Mediterranean-type forest ecosystems and climates. Two clear positive yield anomalies were found in 2006 and 2014, representing more than 270% and 210% increase, respectively, in comparison with time-series mean annual fungal yields. Late-summer-early-autumn precipitation was the most influential variable triggering these extreme mushroom production peaks in comparison with temperature. This suggests that fungal fruiting is sensitive to late-summer-early-autumn precipitation pulses, producing discrete yield pulses when conditions are optimal, which are interspersed among periods of limited water resource availability and lower yields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Mediterranean forests, wildfires are a common feature which profoundly alters vegetation and its associated fungal communities. While a great deal of research has been advocated to the study of plant communities affected by forest fires, our knowledge on the interactions between fire occurrence and development of fungal communities is still scarce. The aim of this work was to study the changes triggered by wildfires in the mycoflora of a Pinus nigra artificial stand in Northern Spain. Sporocarps were collected and identified from a set of three 100 m 2 transects at each one and five year old burned areas and an unburned adjacent area. Then, fungal species richness, biomass production and species composition was analyzed as dependent on time after fire, and also considering aspects as edibility and fungal life form. Sporocarp production and mycorrhizal and edible species richness were strongly affected just after fire, but few differences respect to unburned areas were observed only five years after the disturbance. Also, specific fungal communities composition was correlated with successive stages after fire. This was likely because of the different vegetation composition found at different stages, with species typically connected to Pinus , Quercus and Cistus in the areas where each one of them predominated. Promoting a mixture of host species just following fire by leaving the pioneer species during the implantation of new forest stands, could result in a prompt recovery of the associated fungal community, adding extra ecological value to these forests. [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]

[Display omitted] • The first soil fungal community study in natural Pinus nigra forests after prescribed burning. • Season of burning did not affect fungal richness and diversity values. • Fungal composition was governed by site factors than by prescribed burning. • ECM species was not differently affected by autumn or spring prescribed burnings. • Composition of edible fungi was unaffected by season of prescribed burning. In the context of global change, wildfires are not only a threat but are also increasing in their severity in forest ecosystems worldwide, affecting and modifying vegetation, wildlife, and fungal dynamics. Mediterranean ecosystems are frequently affected by fire and prescribed burning is being increasingly used as a tool to reduce the risk and severity of wildfires. Although some of the effects of prescribed burning have been studied, the best moment to perform a prescribed burn to reduce the impact of fire on fungal communities has not been fully investigated. In this study, we analysed the effect of prescribed burning in two different seasons (spring and autumn) on soil fungi associated with natural Pinus nigra forests. Four years after prescribed burning was applied, our analyses showed that the total fungal richness and the composition of fungal communities in spring-burned, autumn-burned, and unburned control plots did not differ significantly. However, analyses of specific phyla and functional trophic groups did reveal some significant differences between spring- or autumn-burned plots and unburned control plots. Valuable edible fungi, which were not affected by the prescribed burning, were also found in the study area. Thus, our results suggest that prescribed burning is not only an interesting tool that could be used to reduce the risk of wildfire but also is compatible with the conservation of fungal communities, and could even promote specific valuable edible species, generating complementary incomes for the rural population. Although further studies are needed, our analyses suggest that the season (spring or autumn) in which prescribed burning is performed does not affect fungal conservation and, therefore, does not need to be one of the factors taken into consideration when selecting the most appropriate time to perform a prescribed burning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: This study examined the short-term effects of wildfire on fungal communities in two Mediterranean ecosystems in northwestern Spain, dominated by Pinus pinaster Ait. and Cistus ladanifer L., respectively. A large wildfire burned the areas on August 2002. During the autumn of 2003, fruiting bodies found in the plots were identified, and mycological richness, diversity and production in both burned and unburned areas were measured. A 50m×2m transect was established in each plot. In P. pinaster plots, total fungal dry weight decreased from 35.3kgha−1 in unburned plots to 1.9kgha−1 in burned plots, where richness, diversity of mycorrhizal species and production of edible fungi were significantly lower. Dry weight for mycorrhizal species was higher than for saprophytic fungi in the unburned treatments (75% and 25% of the total, respectively), but it was not significantly different in burned areas (56% and 44%). In C. ladanifer plots, mycorrhizal species diversity was higher than that for saprophytic species. However, diversity of total, mycorrhizal and saprophytic fungal species was significantly lower in burned plots. An overall decrease of richness was also observed in these plots. Fire significantly increased the abundance of the pyrophytic mycorrhizal species Leccinum corsicum, whereas Boletus edulis, usually associated with C. ladanifer in northwestern Spain, was not found in burned plots. Some mycorrhizal fungi associated with C. ladanifer are common to Pinus forests, so these pyrophytic shrubs can play an important role in the regeneration of P. pinaster stands after wildfire. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

• Quercus/Cistus forest systems are strongly threatened by wildfires. • Fire-prevention treatments affected on sporocarps production and richness. • Taxa composition was mainly affected by the intensity of Cistus treatments. • Higher intensities of thinning/clearing result in similar sporocarps production. • The treatments could also help the renovation of microbiological soil diversity. Wildfire is a recurrent factor that shapes and influences Mediterranean ecosystems where mixed oak (Quercus) forests with a rockrose (Cistus) understory are broadly represented. These ecosystems are also associated with large and diverse fungal communities. These fungal communities play essential ecological roles for the survival of vascular plant, such as the mineral and water uptaking or resistance against pathogens carried out by mycorrhizal fungi, as the saprotrophic fungi are a key factor for the recycling of the dead matter. In addition, edible fungi, such as Boletus edulis , provide a source of income for the nearby rural population. Fuel reduction treatments are applied to reduce the risk of wildfire; however, their potential impact on fungal communities is unclear. Thus, the aim of this work was to investigate the effect of different fuel reduction treatments on fungi associated with Quercus and Cistus. This aim is accompanied by the management-driven objective to obtain data from fuel reduction treatments that will enable managers to find solutions with a balanced approach to maintaining productive areas of edible mushroom production while reducing fire risks across the landscape. Sporocarps were sampled over a five-year period in stands dominated by mature or coppiced Quercus pyrenaica and accompanied by Cistus ladanifer understory. These stands had been subjected to different fuel reduction treatment levels involving moderate- or high-intensity thinning, for Q. pyrenaica, or clearing, for C. ladanifer. The goal was to determine sporocarp production, species richness, and taxonomic composition. Sporocarp production and fungal richness were drastically affected by the fuel reduction treatments but only when C. ladanifer is included in the treatment. Taxa composition was strongly correlated with the treatments applied to the rockrose understory. This was probably due to the large range of associated ectomycorrhizal fungi of C. ladanifer and their high capacity to recolonize an area after disturbances. Based on our results, we conclude that the implementation of moderate-/high-intensity fuel reduction treatments is compatible with the conservation of the fungal community present in these systems. In addition, the creation of a multi-stage mosaic of stands through mechanical management could enable fire prevention to be managed in an effective way while maintaining fungal diversity and sporocarp production, favoring the use of non-wood resources in rural areas and conserving a healthier forest ecosystem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Fragmented church forests in northern Ethiopia are rich in biodiversity. • We recorded a total of 188 macrofungal species, and 68 of these were edible. • Macrofungi diversity and production was driven by vascular tree diversity. • Macrofungal communities differ across forests and soil fertility gradients. • The conservation of each church forest add diversity and availability resources at landscape level. The Dry Afromontane forests in Northern Ethiopia have been cleared for agriculture and reduced to small and isolated fragments. Most of these forests are located around church territories and are they called church forests. The church forests are known to be biodiversity islands and provide key ecosystem services to local communities. However, to date, the fungal resources of these forests have not been assessed and, therefore, the contribution of fungi to their conservation value is unknown. In 2019, we investigated the fungal diversity of three Dry Afromontane church forests. In each forest, we established nine permanent plots (2 m × 50 m), which were surveyed weekly during the rainy season to quantify the fungal diversity and sporocarp production levels. Explanatory variables were also analyzed to determine their relationship with macrofungal species composition. We collected 13,736 sporocarps corresponding to 188 taxa. Of these, 81% were saprotrophic and 14% were ectomycorrhizal. Sixty-eight species were edible, including economically valuable species such as Tricholoma and Termitomyces. This suggests that these fragmented forest systems could be managed to provide valuable non-timber forest products such as mushrooms and socioeconomic benefits for local communities. Although many species were present in all three forests, some were only found in one forest, highlighting the importance of conserving individual forests. The correlation of the Shannon diversity indices of the two communities showed a positive trend in spite of the lack of correlation between their richness. Macrofungal communities as a whole were influenced by edaphic, spatial and climate variables. This study indicates that church forests support a wide diversity of fungi, including potentially novel fungal species, and highlights the need for forest managers to consider the importance of fungi in forest ecosystem management and to provide habitats that will maintain fungal diversity and sporocarp production when planning conservation strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Wildfires negatively impact Cistus and forest management is needed to protect them. • We studied the effect of management, site history and seasonality on soil bacteria. • There was a significant influence of site history and seasonality on soil bacteria. • Fire prevention management treatments had only a minor effect on the bacteria. • Our findings support active management of these scrublands. Cistus ladanifer scrublands are one of the most characteristic Mediterranean ecosystems. However, these pyrophytic scrublands, are severely affected by wildfires. To reduce this threat, fire prevention management practices are needed to protect these ecosystems. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of management treatments on bacterial richness, abundance and community composition over the time. Plots were stablished in three different stands with different site histories: (a) an eight-year-old stand regenerated after a wildfire; (b) an eight-year-old stand that developed after the total clearing of the previous stand; and (c) a 20-year-old stand that developed following a wildfire. Considered management treatments were total clearing, 50% clearing and controlled burning. Our results revealed that bacterial richness, abundance and community composition were affected by site history and differed among seasons, whereas fire prevention treatments had only a minor effect and did not significantly affect bacterial richness. An absence the management effects suggest that active management does not affect bacterial communities dramatically, supporting active management to rejuvenate senescent stands and to create clearings in young stands. Thus, these practices could reduce the probability of forest wildfires increasing bacterial richness and abundance and growing habitat heterogeneity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• It is the first attempt to describe soil fungal community in Ethiopian natural forests. • Fungal diversity was stand dependent rather than to the chronology of the fire. • One year burnt forest showed the highest fungal richness values. • Soil OM, K and Mg explained mycorrhizal soil fungal composition. • We provided basic information for further studies on fungal resources. Ethiopian dry Afromontane forests are complex ecosystems that have important economic and ecological roles. However, recurrent fire has been a source of disturbance for these forests. We assessed the effect of fire on soil fungal communities in a remnant dry Afromontane forest in Wondo Genet, southern Ethiopia, by analysing soil samples collected from unburned stands and from stands one and ten years after fire using DNA metabarcoding of the ITS2 rDNA. The analysis indicated that the soil fungal community was most diverse soon after a fire disturbance and declined over time. Fungal community composition also differed among stands. Our results also indicated that differences in fungal diversity were stand dependent rather than due to the chronology of the fire history in this forest system. We found higher numbers of mycorrhizal species in burned stands, suggesting that these fungal symbionts could compensate for the effects of nutrient stress caused by fire in these areas. Fungal community composition was also significantly correlated with organic matter content, potassium and magnesium in soil. This work could be considered as a case study since the plots were established in a single stand for each treatment in the dry Afromontane forests of Ethiopia. Thus, we recommend further studies and conclusions regarding other stands need to be taken with caution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• We studied the effect of fire prevention treatments on soil fungal communities inhabiting scrublands. • Soil fungal community was profiled using high-throughput sequencing of fungal markers. • Site differences exerted stronger effect than fire prevention treatments on soil fungal communities. • Controlled fire and 100% clearing decreased the relative proportions of ectomycorrhizal species. • 50% cleared treatments may decrease the risk of fire while maintaining the fungal communities. Cistus ladanifer scrublands are widely distributed in the Mediterranean basin and represent an early stage of secondary succession following major disturbances (e.g., fire). This vegetation type often establishes on disturbed and poor soils, thereby improving soil stability in stress-prone environments. Fire prevention treatments in these scrublands are often recommended to decrease the risk of wildfires, but the effect of these treatments on associated soil fungi is not known. We studied the effect of distinct fire prevention treatments on soil fungal communities associated with C. ladanifer scrublands soils. We used Illumina MiSeq sequencing of the ITS1 region on soil samples taken after distinct fire prevention treatments that were performed in 27 plots belonging to a long-term experiment. Recent fire prevention treatments did not affect overall fungal community composition nor fungal diversity; however, when analyzing the community according to the functional guilds, the relative abundance of ectomycorrhizal species was significantly lower in burned and 100% cleared plots, compared with control and 50% cleared plots. In contrast, site history affected fungal community composition and richness to a greater extent than the fire prevention treatments. Our results show a higher susceptibility of ectomycorrhizal species to recent high-intensity fire prevention treatments, whereas fire prevention treatments of medium intensity may reduce the risk of wildfire and maintain the soil fungal community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) have a broad distribution and establish symbiotic relationships with vascular plants in tropical regions. They play a crucial role in enhancing plant nutrient absorption, mitigating pathogenic infections, and boosting the resilience of host plants to abiotic stresses, including drought under specific conditions. Many natural forests in Ethiopia are being replaced by monospecific plantations. However, the impact of these actions on AMF is unknown and, despite their ecological functions, AMF communities in various forest systems have not been thoroughly investigated. In this study, we assessed soil AMF communities in natural and plantation forests by DNA metabarcoding of the ITS2 rDNA region and assessed the influence of climate and environmental variables on the AMF community. In total, 193 AMF operational taxonomic units (OTUs), comprising nine families and 15 genera, were recorded. Glomerales was the dominant order (67.9 % of AMF OTUs) and Septoglomus fuscum, Diversispora insculpta, and Funneliformis mosseae were the dominant species. AMF were more abundant in natural forests than in plantation forests and the composition of AMF communities differed significantly from those of plantation forest. In plantation forests, soil pH, organic carbon, total nitrogen, and available phosphorus significantly influenced the composition of AMF communities, whereas in natural forest, electrical conductivity, annual rainfall, and cumulative rainfall before sample collection were significantly correlated with AMF. SIMPER analysis identified the AMF responsible for composition variances among different forest types, with the Glomeraceae family being the most significant contributor, accounting for nearly 60 % of the dissimilarity. Our findings further our understanding of the ecological niche function and the role of AMF in Ethiopia's natural forest systems and highlight the importance of prioritizing the sustainable development of degraded natural forests rather than plantations to ensure the preservation of habitats conducive to maintaining various AMF communities when devising conservation and management strategies., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

In Ethiopia, Pinus radiata and Pinus patula are extensively cultivated. Both plantations frequently serve as habitats for edible fungi, providing economic and ecological importance. Our study aims were: (i) to investigate how plantation age and tree species influence the variety of edible fungi and sporocarps production; (ii) to determine edaphic factors contributing to variations in sporocarps composition; and (iii) to establish a relationship between the most influencing edaphic factors and the production of valuable edible mushrooms for both plantation types. Sporocarps were collected weekly from permanent plots (100 m2) established in 5-, 14-, and 28-year-old stands of both species in 2020. From each plot, composite soil samples were also collected to determine explanatory edaphic variables for sporocarps production and composition. A total of 24 edible species, comprising 21 saprophytic and three ectomycorrhizal ones were identified. Agaricus campestroides, Morchella sp., Suillus luteus, Lepista sordida, and Tylopilus niger were found in both plantations. Sporocarp yields showed significant variation, with the highest mean production in 28-year-old stands of both Pinus stands. Differences in sporocarps variety were also observed between the two plantations, influenced by factors such as pH, nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and cation exchange capacity. Bovista dermoxantha, Coprinellus domesticus, and A. campestroides made contributions to the variety. The linear regression models indicated that the abundance of specific fungi was significantly predicted by organic matter. This insight into the nutrient requirements of various fungal species can inform for a better plantation management to produce both wood and non-wood forest products. Additionally, higher sporocarps production in older stands suggests that retaining patches of mature trees after the final cut can enhance fungal habitat, promoting diversity and yield. Thus, implementing this approach could provide supplementary income opportunities from mushroom sales and enhance the economic outputs of plantations, while mature trees could serve as a source of fungal inoculum for new plantations., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright: © 2023 Dejene et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.)

Straw helimulching was applied to an area with a high soil erosion risk one month after the Navalacruz megafire (Iberian Central System, Ávila, Spain) to mitigate soil erosion and to maintain soil quality. To determine whether the soil fungal community, which is key to soil and vegetation recovery after fire, is altered by straw mulching, we examined the effect of helimulching one year after its application. Three hillside zones were chosen with two treatments in each zone (mulched and non-mulched plots), with three replicates of each treatment. Chemical and genomic DNA analyses of soil samples from mulched and non-mulched plots were performed to assess the soil characteristics and the soil fungal community composition and abundance. The total fungal operational taxonomic unit richness and abundance did not differ between treatments. However, there was an increase in the richness of litter saprotrophs, plant pathogens and wood saprotrophs associated with the application of straw mulch. The total fungal composition of mulched and non-mulched plots differed significantly. Fungal composition at the phylum level correlated with the soil potassium content and marginally with the pH and phosphorus content. The application of mulch promoted the dominance of saprotrophic functional groups. Fungal composition according to guilds was also significantly different between treatments. As conclusion, the application of mulch could mean a faster recovery of saprotrophic functional groups that will be responsible for decomposing the available dead fine fuel., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Cistus scrublands are pyrophytic ecosystems and occur widely across Mediterranean regions. Management of these scrublands is critical to prevent major disturbances, such as recurring wildfires. This is because management appears to compromise the synergies necessary for forest health and the provision of ecosystem services. Furthermore, it supports high microbial diversity, opening questions of how forest management practices impact belowground associated diversity as research related to this issue is scarce. This study aims to investigate the effects of different fire prevention treatments and site history on bacterial and fungi co-response and co-occurrence patterns over a fire-risky scrubland ecosystem. Two different site histories were studied by applying three different fire prevention treatments and samples were analyzed by amplification and sequencing of ITS2 and 16S rDNA for fungi and bacteria, respectively. The data revealed that site history, especially regarding fire occurrence, strongly influenced the microbial community. Young burnt areas tended to have a more homogeneous and lower microbial diversity, suggesting environmental filtering to a heat-resistant community. In comparison, young clearing history also showed a significant impact on the fungal community but not on the bacteria. Some bacteria genera were efficient predictors of fungal diversity and richness. For instance, Ktedonobacter and Desertibacter were a predictor of the presence of the edible mycorrhizal bolete Boletus edulis. These results demonstrate fungal and bacterial community co-response to fire prevention treatments and provide new tools for forecasting forest management impacts on microbial communities., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Disturbances alter biodiversity via their specific characteristics, including severity and extent in the landscape, which act at different temporal and spatial scales. Biodiversity response to disturbance also depends on the community characteristics and habitat requirements of species. Untangling the mechanistic interplay of these factors has guided disturbance ecology for decades, generating mixed scientific evidence of biodiversity responses to disturbance. Understanding the impact of natural disturbances on biodiversity is increasingly important due to human-induced changes in natural disturbance regimes. In many areas, major natural forest disturbances, such as wildfires, windstorms, and insect outbreaks, are becoming more frequent, intense, severe, and widespread due to climate change and land-use change. Conversely, the suppression of natural disturbances threatens disturbance-dependent biota. Using a meta-analytic approach, we analysed a global data set (with most sampling concentrated in temperate and boreal secondary forests) of species assemblages of 26 taxonomic groups, including plants, animals, and fungi collected from forests affected by wildfires, windstorms, and insect outbreaks. The overall effect of natural disturbances on α-diversity did not differ significantly from zero, but some taxonomic groups responded positively to disturbance, while others tended to respond negatively. Disturbance was beneficial for taxonomic groups preferring conditions associated with open canopies (e.g. hymenopterans and hoverflies), whereas ground-dwelling groups and/or groups typically associated with shady conditions (e.g. epigeic lichens and mycorrhizal fungi) were more likely to be negatively impacted by disturbance. Across all taxonomic groups, the highest α-diversity in disturbed forest patches occurred under moderate disturbance severity, i.e. with approximately 55% of trees killed by disturbance. We further extended our meta-analysis by applying a unified diversity concept based on Hill numbers to estimate α-diversity changes in different taxonomic groups across a gradient of disturbance severity measured at the stand scale and incorporating other disturbance features. We found that disturbance severity negatively affected diversity for Hill number q = 0 but not for q = 1 and q = 2, indicating that diversity-disturbance relationships are shaped by species relative abundances. Our synthesis of α-diversity was extended by a synthesis of disturbance-induced change in species assemblages, and revealed that disturbance changes the β-diversity of multiple taxonomic groups, including some groups that were not affected at the α-diversity level (birds and woody plants). Finally, we used mixed rarefaction/extrapolation to estimate biodiversity change as a function of the proportion of forests that were disturbed, i.e. the disturbance extent measured at the landscape scale. The comparison of intact and naturally disturbed forests revealed that both types of forests provide habitat for unique species assemblages, whereas species diversity in the mixture of disturbed and undisturbed forests peaked at intermediate values of disturbance extent in the simulated landscape. Hence, the relationship between α-diversity and disturbance severity in disturbed forest stands was strikingly similar to the relationship between species richness and disturbance extent in a landscape consisting of both disturbed and undisturbed forest habitats. This result suggests that both moderate disturbance severity and moderate disturbance extent support the highest levels of biodiversity in contemporary forest landscapes., (© 2022 The Authors. Biological Reviews published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Cambridge Philosophical Society.)

Ethiopian forests are rich in valuable types of non-wood forest products, including mushrooms. However, despite their nutritional, economic, and ecological importance, wild edible mushrooms have been given little attention and are rarely documented in Ethiopia. In this study, we assessed mushroom production levels in natural and plantation forests and the influence of climate and environmental variables on mushroom production. Sporocarps were sampled weekly from July to August 2019 at a set of permanent plots (100 m 2 ) in both forest systems. We analyzed 63 plots to quantify sporocarp species' richness and fresh weight as well as to elucidate the degree of influence of forest types and site conditions, including soil and climate. Morphological analyses were used to identify fungi. In total, we recorded 64 wild edible fungal species belonging to 31 genera and 21 families from the plots established in the natural and plantation forests. A significantly greater total number of edible fungi were collected from natural forests (n = 40 species) than from plantations. Saprotrophs (92.19%) were the dominant guild whereas ectomycorrhizal fungi represented only 6.25% of species. Ecologically and economically important fungal species such as Agaricus campestroides , Tylopilus niger , Suillus luteus , Tricholoma portentosum , and Morchella americana were collected. The sporocarp yield obtained from plantation forests (2097.57 kg ha -1 yr -1 ) was significantly greater than that obtained from natural forests (731.18 kg ha -1 yr -1 ). The fungal community composition based on sporocarp production was mainly correlated with the organic matter, available phosphorus, and total nitrogen content of the soil, and with the daily minimum temperature during collection. Accordingly, improving edible species' richness and sporocarp production by maintaining ecosystem integrity represents a way of adding economic value to forests and maintaining biological diversity, while providing wood and non-wood forest products; we propose that this approach is imperative for managing Ethiopian forests.

This study is conducted in the short-rotation plantations from the Afromontane Region of Ethiopia. Sporocarps were sampled weekly in a set of permanent plots (100 m 2 ) in young, medium-aged, and mature Pinus radiata (Don) plantations. Fungal richness, diversity, and sporocarp yields were estimated. Composite soil samples were also collected from each plot to determine explanatory edaphic variables for taxa composition. We collected 92 fungal taxa, of which 8% were ectomycorrhizal (ECM). Taxa richness, the Shannon diversity index, and ECM species richness were higher in mature stands. Interestingly, 26% of taxa were classified as edible. Sporocarp yield showed increasing trends towards matured stands. OM and C/N ratio significantly affected fungal composition and sporocarp production. The deliberate retention of mature trees in a patch form rather than clear felling of the plantations could be useful to conserve and promote fungal diversity and production, including valuable taxa such as Morchella , Suillus , and Tylopilus in older stands. This approach has important implications for forest floor microhabitats, which are important for macrofungal occurrence and production. Thus, this strategy could improve the economic outputs of these plantations in the Afromontane Region, while the mature trees could serve as a bridge for providing fungal inocula to the new plantations.

In this study, we evaluated stand status, dendrometric variables, and fruit production of Tamarind ( Tamarindus indica L.) trees growing in bushland and farmland-use types in dryland areas of Ethiopia. The vegetation survey was conducted using the point-centered quarter method. The fruit yield of 54 trees was also evaluated. Tree density and fruit production in ha were estimated. There was a significant difference in Tamarind tree density between the two land-use types ( p = 0.01). The mean fruit yield of farmland trees was significantly higher than that of bushland trees. However, Tamarind has unsustainable structure on farmlands. Differences in the dendrometric characteristics of trees were also observed between the two land-use types. Predictive models were selected for Tamarind fruit yield estimations in both land-use types. Although the majority of farmland trees produced <5000 fruit year -1 , the selection of Tamarind germplasm in its natural ranges could improve production. Thus, the development of management plans to establish stands that have a more balanced diameter structure and thereby ensure continuity of the population and fruit yields is required in this area, particularly in the farmlands. This baseline information could assist elsewhere in areas that are facing similar challenges for the species due to land-use change.

Cistus ladanifer scrublands, traditionally considered as unproductive, have nonetheless been observed to produce large quantities of king bolete (Boletus edulis) fruitbodies. These pyrophytic scrublands are prone to wildfires, which severely affect fungi, hence the need for fire prevention in producing C. ladanifer scrublands. In addition, B. edulis productions have severely decreased in the last years. A deeper understanding of the B. edulis life cycle and of biotic and abiotic factors influencing sporocarp formation is needed to implement management practices that facilitate B. edulis production. For example, some bacteria likely are involved in sporocarp production, representing a key part in the triple symbiosis (plant-fungus-bacteria). In this study, we used soil DNA metabarcoding in C. ladanifer scrublands to (i) assess the effect of site history and fire prevention treatment on bacterial richness and community composition; (ii) test if there was any correlation between various taxonomic groups of bacteria and mycelial biomass and sporocarp production of B. edulis; and to (iii) identify indicator bacteria associated with the most productive B. edulis sites. Our results show that site history drives bacterial richness and community composition, while fire prevention treatments have a weaker, but still detectable effect, particularly in the senescent plots. Sporocarp production correlated positively with genera in Verrucomicrobia. Several genera, e.g. Azospirillum and Gemmatimonas, were identified as indicators of the most productive sites, suggesting a potential biological role in B. edulis fructification. This study provides a better understanding of the triple symbiosis (plant-fungus-bacteria) involved in C. ladanifer-B. edulis systems., (© 2019 The Authors. Microbial Biotechnology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd and Society for Applied Microbiology.)