Communities of Filamentous Fungi and Yeast in Decomposing Logs of Pseudotsuga Menziesii

ABSTRACT

We investigated the communities of filamentous fungi and yeasts in logs in advanced stages of decay. Decay stages are generally defined from class I-V, with class I being the least decayed and class V being the most decayed. Fungi were isolated from cross-sections approximately 15 cm thick of Pseudotsuga menziesii logs in decay classes III and IV. Cross sections included portions of logs with and without conifer seedlings. Samples were removed from three vertical positions (top, middle, and bottom) of each cross-section. Comparisons of coefficient of community and detrended correspondence analysis ordinations indicated differences in community structure between class III and class IV logs. No community differences were found between samples with and without conifer seedlings. A total of 18 genera and 36 species of fungi were recovered from samples; more than 50% of recovered genera were dematiaceous hyphomycetes.

Key Words:

• Ecology
• wood decay
• fungus communities
• Pseudotsuga