New Zealand Journal of Botany abstract

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Nutrient composition of epigeous fungal sporocarps growing on different substrates in a New Zealand mountain beech forest

PETER W. CLINTON

Forest Research Institute
Private Bag 4800
Christchurch, New Zealand

PETER K. BUCHANAN

Landcare Research
Private Bag 92170
Mt Albert
Auckland, New Zealand

ROBERT B. ALLEN

Landcare Research
P.O. Box 69
Lincoln, New Zealand

Abstract  Fungal sporocarps of selected species were collected from two substrates (standing dead spars and fallen logs, and the forest floor) in mountain beech (Nothofagus solandri var. cliffortioides) forest. Sporocarp C, N, P, Ca, K, Mg, Si, Al, and Na concentrations were determined. There was considerable variation in mineral element concentrations between species but this variation did not strongly relate to substrate, e.g., sporocarp N concentrations ranged from 12.1 mg g^-1 for Daldinia concentrica to 55.1 mg g^-1 for Pluteus cf. readii. Both species were found on decaying woody sustrates which had a mean N concentration of 1.5 mg g^-1. Except for Ca, nutrient concentrations were much higher in sporocarps than in substrates upon which they occurred. The high nutrient concentrations of sporocarps, particularly those found on standing dead spars and fallen logs, relative to their associated substrate, have important implications for ecosystem nutrient cycling.

Keywords  mountain beech; Nothofagus; fungal sporocarps; nitrogen; calcium; mycophagy

B97052
Received 7 August 1997; accepted 10 July 1998

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