| Title |
Does topography affect the ectomycorrhizal fungal community structure of Scots Pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) grown on the sand coastal dunes in Poland and Lithuania |
| Authors |
Rudawska, Maria ; Aučina, Algis ; Naugžemys, Donatas ; Skridaila, Audrius ; Karliński, Leszek ; Pietras, Marcin ; Leski, Tomasz |
| DOI |
10.1016/j.foreco.2025.122786 |
| Full Text |
|
| Is Part of |
Forest ecology and management.. Amsterdam : Elsevier B.V.. 2025, vol. 589, art. no. 122786, p. [1-13].. ISSN 0378-1127 |
| Keywords [eng] |
community composition ; environmental drivers ; red-listed species ; sanger sequencing ; species richness ; symbiosis |
| Abstract [eng] |
Coastal dune forests play a crucial ecological role, supporting biodiversity and providing essential ecosystem services. This study investigated ectomycorrhizal (ECM) fungal communities in afforested Scots pine forests along the southern and southeastern Baltic Sea coasts in Poland and Lithuania, focusing on the impact of topography on these communities. A total of 73 fungal taxa were identified across four Scots pine dune forests. Despite the presence of topographical variation, ECM fungal communities exhibited similar cumulative and average taxa richness. A discernible yet non-statistically significant trend was observed in the structure of exploration types (ET) relative to dune topography. The upper part of the dune, characterized by very nutrient-poor soils, was dominated by contact-short ETs. Conversely, medium-long ETs were more prevalent at the lower part of the dune, where stand volume was higher and litter development more advanced. This pattern aligns with the energy limitation hypothesis rather than the functional compensation hypothesis. The thickness of the organic layer was identified as a significant factor influencing fungal diversity. The ECM fungal community was dominated by Cenococcum geophilum, along with a lower diversity of other generalist fungi. Several rare or red-listed species were found, mainly on the upper part of the dune slope. The potentially invasive Aureoboletus projectellus and indicator species Imleria badia and Clavulina sp. were also identified. This research underscores the pivotal role of coastal dune forests in preserving fungal diversity and offers valuable insights into the ecological processes that shape ECM fungal communities. |
| Published |
Amsterdam : Elsevier B.V |
| Type |
Journal article |
| Language |
English |
| Publication date |
2025 |
| CC license |
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