Diversity 2012, 4(2), 196-223; doi:10.3390/d4020196
Article

Diversity of Mat-Forming Fungi in Relation to Soil Properties, Disturbance, and Forest Ecotype at Crater Lake National Park, Oregon, USA

Matthew J. Trappe* email, Kermit Cromack Jr.email, Bruce A. Caldwellemail, Robert P. Griffithsemail and James M. Trappeemail
Department of Forest Ecosystems and Society, Oregon State University, 321 Richardson Hall, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA
* Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Received: 14 March 2012; in revised form: 4 April 2012 / Accepted: 9 April 2012 / Published: 24 April 2012
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biodiversity and Forest Dynamics and Functions)
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Abstract: In forest ecosystems, fungal mats are functionally important in nutrient and water uptake in litter and wood decomposition processes, in carbon resource allocation, soil weathering and in cycling of soil resources. Fungal mats can occur abundantly in forests and are widely distributed globally. We sampled ponderosa pine/white fir and mountain hemlock/noble fir communities at Crater Lake National Park for mat-forming soil fungi. Fungus collections were identified by DNA sequencing. Thirty-eight mat-forming genotypes were identified; members of the five most common genera (Gautieria, Lepiota, Piloderma, Ramaria, and Rhizopogon) comprised 67% of all collections. The mycorrhizal genera Alpova and Lactarius are newly identified as ectomycorrhizal mat-forming taxa, as are the saprotrophic genera Flavoscypha, Gastropila, Lepiota and Xenasmatella. Twelve typical mat forms are illustrated, representing both ectomycorrhizal and saprotrophic fungi that were found. Abundance of fungal mats was correlated with higher soil carbon to nitrogen ratios, fine woody debris and needle litter mass in both forest ecotypes. Definitions of fungal mats are discussed, along with some of the challenges in defining what comprises a fungal “mat”.
Keywords: ectomycorrhizal mats; litter mass; saprotrophic fungi; soil C:N ratio

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Cite This Article

MDPI and ACS Style

Trappe, M.J.; Cromack, K., Jr.; Caldwell, B.A.; Griffiths, R.P.; Trappe, J.M. Diversity of Mat-Forming Fungi in Relation to Soil Properties, Disturbance, and Forest Ecotype at Crater Lake National Park, Oregon, USA. Diversity 2012, 4, 196-223.

AMA Style

Trappe MJ, Cromack K, Jr, Caldwell BA, Griffiths RP, Trappe JM. Diversity of Mat-Forming Fungi in Relation to Soil Properties, Disturbance, and Forest Ecotype at Crater Lake National Park, Oregon, USA. Diversity. 2012; 4(2):196-223.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Trappe, Matthew J.; Cromack, Kermit, Jr.; Caldwell, Bruce A.; Griffiths, Robert P.; Trappe, James M. 2012. "Diversity of Mat-Forming Fungi in Relation to Soil Properties, Disturbance, and Forest Ecotype at Crater Lake National Park, Oregon, USA." Diversity 4, no. 2: 196-223.

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