The effect of the moisture factor on the settling of mycorrhiza forming agaricomycetes in the conditions of the natural monument of regional significance “Nikonovsky Bor”

Abstract

Background. One of the topical areas for the protection of biological diversity is the inclusion of habitats of rare species in the composition of specially protected natural areas (SPNA). There is experience in creating mycological protected areas in Penza region. Such an object is the natural monument of regional significance “Nikonovsky Bor”. The pur-pose of this work is to study the species composition of mycorrhiza forming agaricomy-cetes and the influence of environmental factors on the distribution of these fungi within a given territory. Materials and methods. The studies were carried out on the territory of the Penza region within the natural monument of regional significance “Nikonovsky Bor” in 2016–2021 route and stationary method. When determining fungi, the method of light mi-croscopy was used. Results. 107 species of mycorrhizal forming agaricomycetes have been identified on the territory of the nature monument “Nikonovsky Bor”. Of these, three are listed in the Red Book of Penza region, and four are of interest from the point of view of their inclusion in its subsequent editions. It has been established that the leading abiotic factor determining the spatial distribution of mycorrhizal agaricomycetes on the territory of protected areas is the moisture factor. In relation to it, these fungi can be divided into a number of ecological groups: xerophytes, xero-mesophytes, mesophytes, hygrophytes and ultrahygrophytes. The moisture factor also affects the abundance of fruit bodies of agaricomycetes. It was found out that the yield of mushrooms of the considered group in-creases depending on the conditions of humidification. It turns out to be minimal in lichen pine forests, average – in green-mossy pine forests, maximum – in long-mossy-sphagnum birch forests. As shown by the results of calculations on trial areas measuring 10 × 100 m, the yield of mushrooms of the considered group increases depending on the conditions of humidification. It turns out to be minimal in lichen pine forests, average in green-mossy and blueberry pine forests, maximum in long-mossy-sphagnum birch forests. Due to the different humidification of ecotopes, which are associated with different types of forests, they differ significantly in the stability of fruiting mushrooms. The smallest fluctuations in their yield over the years are characteristic of the wettest type – longmose-sphagnum birch, the largest – for the driest – lichen pine. The green-mossy and blueberry pine forests occu-py an average position according to this indicator.

Keywords

• mycorrhizal fungi
• natural monument
• humidification
• pine forests
• rare species
• biodiversity