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Forests
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Wood Decay Biology in the Forest
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Wood Decay Biology in the Forest

A special issue of Forests (ISSN 1999-4907). This special issue belongs to the section "Wood Science and Forest Products".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (20 February 2022) | Viewed by 11004

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Yu Fukasawa

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Laboratory of Forest Ecology, Tohoku University, Sendai 980-8578, Japan
Interests: biotic interactions; community ecology; deadwood ecology; mycorrhiza; wood decomposition; wood-decay fungi
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The biological elements that make up a forest ecosystem are producers, consumers, and decomposers, which correspond to plants, animals, and fungi, respectively. The role of fungi in ecosystems is to break down organic matter and reduce it to inorganic matter. Various fungi are involved in the decomposition of this organic matter. Moreover, it takes a long time for organic substances, which are complex compounds, to be completely decomposed. In the meantime, a large number of fungi are related one after another, and decompose in order. Among fungi, basidiomycetes and ascomycetes play a major role in the decomposition of organic matter. Wood is the major biomass contained in forest ecosystems. Forests are inhabited by a group of fungi that decompose wood and use it to live––wood-decay fungi. Most of the species belonging to wood-decay fungi are basidiomycetes and ascomycetes. The three basic organism groups of plants, animals, and fungi cooperate with each other to circulate a limited amount of daily necessities in the form of synthesis–decomposition–synthesis, thereby producing limited substances in limited places. It is used endlessly to form a stable ecosystem.

This Special Issue should provide important knowledge about the interactions between the organisms involved in the decomposition cycle of wood in forest ecosystems.

Dr. Yu Fukasawa
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Forests is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • carbone cycling
  • decomposer
  • forest ecosystem
  • interspecific interaction
  • wood-decay fungi
  • woody biomass

Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

19 pages, 4092 KiB  
Article
Phylogenetic Signal, Root Morphology, Mycorrhizal Type, and Macroinvertebrate Exclusion: Exploring Wood Decomposition in Soils Conditioned by 13 Temperate Tree Species
by Rondy J. Malik, Mary Ann V. Bruns, Terrence H. Bell and David M. Eissenstat
Forests 2022, 13(4), 536; https://doi.org/10.3390/f13040536 - 30 Mar 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2681
Abstract
Woodlands are pivotal to carbon stocks, but the process of cycling C is slow and may be most effective in the biodiverse root zone. How the root zone impacts plants has been widely examined over the past few decades, but the role of [...] Read more.
Woodlands are pivotal to carbon stocks, but the process of cycling C is slow and may be most effective in the biodiverse root zone. How the root zone impacts plants has been widely examined over the past few decades, but the role of the root zone in decomposition is understudied. Here, we examined how mycorrhizal association and macroinvertebrate activity influences wood decomposition across diverse tree species. Within the root zone of six predominantly arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) (Acer negundo, Acer saccharum, Prunus serotina, Juglans nigra, Sassafras albidum, and Liriodendron tulipfera) and seven predominantly ectomycorrhizal (EM) tree species (Carya glabra, Quercus alba, Quercus rubra, Betula alleghaniensis, Picea rubens, Pinus virginiana, and Pinus strobus), woody litter was buried for 13 months. Macroinvertebrate access to woody substrate was either prevented or not using 0.22 mm mesh in a common garden site in central Pennsylvania. Decomposition was assessed as proportionate mass loss, as explained by root diameter, phylogenetic signal, mycorrhizal type, canopy tree trait, or macroinvertebrate exclusion. Macroinvertebrate exclusion significantly increased wood decomposition by 5.9%, while mycorrhizal type did not affect wood decomposition, nor did canopy traits (i.e., broad leaves versus pine needles). Interestingly, there was a phylogenetic signal for wood decomposition. Local indicators for phylogenetic associations (LIPA) determined high values of sensitivity value in Pinus and Picea genera, while Carya, Juglans, Betula, and Prunus yielded low values of sensitivity. Phylogenetic signals went undetected for tree root morphology. Despite this, roots greater than 0.35 mm significantly increased woody litter decomposition by 8%. In conclusion, the findings of this study suggest trees with larger root diameters can accelerate C cycling, as can trees associated with certain phylogenetic clades. In addition, root zone macroinvertebrates can potentially limit woody C cycling, while mycorrhizal type does not play a significant role. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Wood Decay Biology in the Forest)
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10 pages, 9021 KiB  
Article
Revealing the Cryptic Diversity of Wood-Inhabiting Auricularia (Auriculariales, Basidiomycota) in Europe
by Jiří Kout and Fang Wu
Forests 2022, 13(4), 532; https://doi.org/10.3390/f13040532 - 30 Mar 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 3020
Abstract
Some unusual specimens of the wood-inhabiting fungus Auricularia auricula-judae have been studied using morphological and molecular methods. As expected from external features, we describe a new species Auricularia cerrina sp. nov. Sequencing of the ITS region confirms differences from other species of Auricularia, [...] Read more.
Some unusual specimens of the wood-inhabiting fungus Auricularia auricula-judae have been studied using morphological and molecular methods. As expected from external features, we describe a new species Auricularia cerrina sp. nov. Sequencing of the ITS region confirms differences from other species of Auricularia, and preliminary phylogenetic analysis is presented. Auricularia cerrina is characterized by blackish fruitbodies in fresh conditions with the combined presence of the medulla layer and small spores compared with Auricularia auricula-judae. The new species is based on specimens from the Czech Republic (central Europe) of Quercus cerris. Colour photographs in situ of fruitbodies and some microscopic photos are provided. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Wood Decay Biology in the Forest)
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20 pages, 3925 KiB  
Article
Variation in Downed Deadwood Density, Biomass, and Moisture during Decomposition in a Natural Temperate Forest
by Tomáš Přívětivý and Pavel Šamonil
Forests 2021, 12(10), 1352; https://doi.org/10.3390/f12101352 - 3 Oct 2021
Cited by 11 | Viewed by 2122
Abstract
Deadwood is a resource of water, nutrients, and carbon, as well as an important driving factor of spatial pedocomplexity and hillslope processes in forested landscapes. The applicability of existing relevant studies in mountain forests in Central Europe is limited by the low number [...] Read more.
Deadwood is a resource of water, nutrients, and carbon, as well as an important driving factor of spatial pedocomplexity and hillslope processes in forested landscapes. The applicability of existing relevant studies in mountain forests in Central Europe is limited by the low number of data, absence of precise dating, and short time periods studied. Here, we aimed to assess the decomposition pathway in terms of changes and variability in the physical characteristics of deadwood (wood density, biomass, and moisture) during the decomposition process, and to describe differences in decomposition rate. The research was carried out in the Žofínský Primeval Forest, one of the oldest forest reserves in Europe. Samples were taken from sapwood of downed logs of the three main tree species: Fagus sylvatica L., Abies alba Mill., and Picea abies (L.) Karst. The time since the death of each downed log was obtained using tree censuses repeated since 1975 and dendrochronology. The maximal time since the death of a log was species-specific, and ranged from 61–76 years. The rate of change (slope) of moisture content along the time since death in a linear regression model was the highest for F. sylvatica (b = 3.94) compared to A. alba (b = 2.21) and P. abies (b = 1.93). An exponential model showing the dependence of biomass loss on time since death revealed that F. sylvatica stems with a diameter of 50–90 cm had the shortest decomposition rate—51 years—followed by P. abies (71 years) and A. alba (72 years). Our findings can be used in geochemical models of element cycles in temperate old-growth forests, the prediction of deadwood dynamics and changes in related biodiversity, and in refining management recommendations. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Wood Decay Biology in the Forest)
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10 pages, 2116 KiB  
Article
Invertebrate Assemblages on Biscogniauxia Sporocarps on Oak Dead Wood: An Observation Aided by Squirrels
by Yu Fukasawa
Forests 2021, 12(8), 1124; https://doi.org/10.3390/f12081124 - 22 Aug 2021
Viewed by 2040
Abstract
Dead wood is an important habitat for both fungi and insects, two enormously diverse groups that contribute to forest biodiversity. Unlike the myriad of studies on fungus–insect relationships, insect communities on ascomycete sporocarps are less explored, particularly for those in hidden habitats such [...] Read more.
Dead wood is an important habitat for both fungi and insects, two enormously diverse groups that contribute to forest biodiversity. Unlike the myriad of studies on fungus–insect relationships, insect communities on ascomycete sporocarps are less explored, particularly for those in hidden habitats such as underneath bark. Here, I present my observations of insect community dynamics on Biscogniauxia spp. on oak dead wood from the early anamorphic stage to matured teleomorph stage, aided by the debarking behaviour of squirrels probably targeting on these fungi. In total, 38 insect taxa were observed on Biscogniauxia spp. from March to November. The community composition was significantly correlated with the presence/absence of Biscogniauxia spp. Additionally, Librodor (Glischrochilus) ipsoides, Laemophloeus submonilis, and Neuroctenus castaneus were frequently recorded and closely associated with Biscogniauxia spp. along its change from anamorph to teleomorph. L. submonilis was positively associated with both the anamorph and teleomorph stages. L. ipsoides and N. castaneus were positively associated with only the teleomorph but not with the anamorph stage. N. castaneus reproduced and was found on Biscogniauxia spp. from June to November. These results suggest that sporocarps of Biscogniauxia spp. are important to these insect taxa, depending on their developmental stage. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Wood Decay Biology in the Forest)
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