Sustainable management of biological uprooting of forest species with decomposing fungi

This manual explains:

• How decomposer fungi work in forest ecosystems
• Which fungal species are suitable for stump degradation
• Practical application methods in the field
• Potential environmental benefits and management considerations

Introduction

Fungi are organisms present in all ecosystems that fulfil a series of fundamental roles in the functioning of natural systems. Among them, we find mycorrhiza-forming species, which establish mutualistic associations with the roots of most woody plant species and are important actors in the carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus cycle in the soil.

On the other hand, there are parasitic species that live at the expense of other plant species, obtaining carbon from leaves, trunks and roots. Some of these species can cause serious diseases in trees, altering forest dynamics and influencing tree regeneration. The third functional group is saprophytic fungi, which decompose dead organic matter, such as bark, dead trunks, leaf litter or humus. These fungi play an essential role in the degradation of biomass and in the recycling of nutrients within forest ecosystems.

It is important to note that the three roles mentioned are not always static; some species can transition between them. Specifically, some mycorrhizal species, such as those of the genus Suillus, can degrade organic matter, while others, usually parasitic, can continue to degrade their host tree once it dies and, therefore, act as saprophytes. Furthermore, some species can even alternate between different strategies depending on the phase of their life cycle. This makes the decomposition process and the nutrient cycle in forests dynamic and interconnected.

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