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Reintroducing threatened pine-associated fungal species in boreal forests

Summary

Researchers successfully used inoculation to introduce five rare fungal species back into protected forests in Finland. By injecting fungal cultures into pine logs, the fungi established successfully in 28-60% of logs within one year. The study shows that inoculation can be an effective tool for restoring threatened fungal species to forests, though long-term monitoring is needed to confirm these fungi will continue growing and producing fruiting bodies.

Background

Wood-inhabiting fungi in boreal forests face extinction risks due to fragmented old-growth forests from commercial forestry. Historical habitat loss means threatened fungal species may not naturally return to newly protected areas. This study investigates inoculation as a management tool to reintroduce red-listed wood-decay fungi.

Objective

To test whether red-listed fungal species associated with dead pine wood could successfully establish in inoculated pine logs and identify factors influencing inoculation success. The study examined five threatened pine-specialist fungal species using both traditional log characteristics and DNA analysis.

Results

All five species successfully established in 28-60% of inoculated logs. Decay stage significantly affected establishment, with earlier decay stages performing better. Unexpectedly, kelo wood showed no consistent advantage. Fungal community composition was a stronger predictor of success than abiotic log characteristics, with specific fungal genera showing positive associations with inoculated species.

Conclusion

Inoculation represents a promising conservation method for reintroducing threatened wood-inhabiting fungi to appropriate forest habitats. Long-term monitoring is essential to assess fruiting success and population sustainability. Understanding fungal community interactions may enhance reintroduction effectiveness in future forest management practices.
  • Published in:Environmental Management,
  • Study Type:Experimental field study,
  • Source: 10.1007/s00267-025-02166-6
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