title: Similar biodiversity of ectomycorrhizal fungi in set-aside plantations and ancient old-growth broadleaved forests.
abstract: Setting aside overmature planted forests is currently seen as an option for preserving species associated with old-growth forests, such as those with dispersal limitation. Few data exist, however, on the utility of set-aside plantations for this purpose, or the value of this habitat type for biodiversity relative to old-growth semi-natural ecosystems. Here, we evaluate the contribution of forest type relative to habitat characteristics in determining species richness and composition in seven forest blocks, each containing an ancient old-growth stand (> 1000 yrs) paired with a set-aside even-aged planted stand (ca. 180 yrs). We investigated the functionally important yet relatively neglected ectomycorrhizal fungi (EMF), a group for which the importance of forest age has not been assessed in broadleaved forests. We found that forest type was not an important determinant of EMF species richness or composition, demonstrating that set-aside can be an effective option for conserving ancient EMF communities. Species richness of above-ground EMF fruiting bodies was principally related to the basal area of the stand (a correlate of canopy cover) and tree species diversity, whilst richness of below-ground ectomycorrhizae was driven only by tree diversity. Our results suggest that overmature planted forest stands, particularly those that are mixed-woods with high basal area, are an effective means to connect and expand ecological networks of ancient old-growth forests in historically deforested and fragmented landscapes for ectomycorrhizal fungi.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Biological Sciences, Institute for Life Sciences Building 85, University of Southampton, Southampton, SO17 1BJ, UK.
authors.forename: Rebecca
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Spake
authors.affiliation: Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London, SW7 2AZ, UK; Comparative Plant and Fungal Biology, Jodrell Gate, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond, TW9 3DS, UK.
authors.forename: Sietse
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: van der Linde
authors.affiliation: Centre for Ecology, Environment and Sustainability, Faculty of Science and Technology, Bournemouth University, Talbot Campus, Fern Barrow, Poole, Dorset BH12 5BB, UK.
authors.forename: Adrian C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Newton
authors.affiliation: Comparative Plant and Fungal Biology, Jodrell Gate, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond, TW9 3DS, UK.
authors.forename: Laura M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Suz
authors.affiliation: Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London, SW7 2AZ, UK; Comparative Plant and Fungal Biology, Jodrell Gate, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond, TW9 3DS, UK.
authors.forename: Martin I
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Bidartondo
authors.affiliation: Centre for Biological Sciences, Institute for Life Sciences Building 85, University of Southampton, Southampton, SO17 1BJ, UK.
authors.forename: C Patrick
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Doncaster
keywords: Ectomycorrhizal fungi; Oak; Old-growth; Overmature; Planted forest; Set-aside; Species richness; Sporocarp