Ecology and management of the lobster mushroom in an eastern Canadian jack pine stand

Abstract

The lobster mushroom, an organism resulting from the infection of Russula spp. by Hypomyces lactifluorum (Schwein.) Tul. & C. Tul., is common to Canadian boreal forests and has good commercial potential. Within a Pinus banksiana Lamb. stand managed for mushroom production, this study aimed to (1) document carpophore productivity (density, biomass per area) during three seasons, (2) compare productivity among three forest conditions (trails, forest strips between trails, and unmanaged forest), (3) establish ecological parameters related to productivity, and (4) define microhabitats where carpophores are present by using soil and vegetation descriptors. Mushroom density tended to be higher on the trails than under the canopy, but fresh biomass was higher in forest strips except in 2006 when midsummer precipitation was low. Trail management did not increase mushroom production but maintained it during periods of reduced precipitation. Productivity was positively related to the abundance of shade-intolerant plant species and to extractable ammonium, and negatively related to soil pH. Within the present study conditions, microhabitats suitable for the presence of carpophores had low pH, high available phosphorus, low Kalmia angustifolia L. cover, and small canopy gaps with shade-intolerant species. This study was the first step toward understanding the ecology and impacts of forest practices on the lobster mushroom.

Ecology and productivity of Cantharellus cibarius var. roseocanus in two eastern Canadian jack pine stands

“…The study was conducted in two jack pine stands of the boreal forest near Girardville, Quebec, Canada (49°07′ N; 72°35′ W) (for a map of the study site, see Rochon et al (2009)). The first stand was located in the Domaine de la Rivière Mistassini private forest and is hereafter referred to as the "private stand".…”

“…Both stands are of fire origin and have an approximate 20 year age difference, but as their heights were similar (16.2 m for the private stand and 15.7 m for the public stand), we considered both stands to be very similar and excluded successional effects. For specific stand characteristics, see Rochon et al (2009).…”

“…roseocanus productivity and sporocarp presence in the microhabitat, organic and mineral soil, stand, vegetation, and meteorological parameters were measured. Details about data gathering are presented in Rochon et al (2009), but briefly, in 2005, we assessed the following parameters: pH in distilled water and in KCl solutions; mineral N (NO 3 -and NH 4 + ) concentrations from a 2 mol/L KCl extraction; Bray-2 extractable P (phosphorus); cation exchange capacity, determined as the sum of exchangeable cations (sodium, manganese, iron, aluminum, potassium, magnesium, and calcium) extracted with 0.1 mol/L BaCl 2 ; carbon:nitrogen (C:N) ratio, determined on a CNS analyzer; and soil texture for the mineral fraction only (fine sand, coarse sand, silt, and clay percentage) using the hydrometer method.…”

“…Canopy cover percentages (expressed as the opening of the canopy and the percentage of transmissible light) were obtained for each plot following the protocol reported elsewhere (Rochon et al 2009). …”

“…Depending on the chosen variables (mushroom density, biomass, or mushroom presence-absence), the ecological parameters influencing mushroom fructification may differ (Rochon et al 2009). However, in this study, these three variables were similarly affected by soil and stand parameters.…”