Effects of timber harvest on epigeous fungal fruiting patterns and community structure in a northern hardwood ecosystem

Epigeous fungal fruiting has important impacts on reproduction and ecosystem function. Forest disturbances, such as timber harvest, impact moisture, host availability, substrate which in turn may drive changes patterns community structure. We surveyed mushrooms 0.4 ha patch cuts (18 months post-harvest) adjacent intact hardwood forest northern New Hampshire, USA, to document the effects of harvest summer richness, biomass, diversity, structure ectomycorrhizal, parasitic, saprobic mushroom taxa. Fungal heterogeneity were greater forests than cuts. Among functional groups, ectomycorrhizal biomass unharvested areas cuts, but parasitic did not differ statistically between two conditions. Our findings suggest that simplifies communities shortly after particular triggering declines taxa are symbionts facilitating tree establishment regeneration. Multi-aged silvicultural practices maintain mature conditions throughout harvested through deliberate retention overstory trees downed woody material promote diversity regenerating stands.