Polypore diversity in the herb-rich woodland key habitats of Koli National Park in eastern Finland

• Published in: Biological conservation Vol. 126; no. 2; pp. 260 - 269
• Main Authors: Sippola, Anna-Liisa, Mönkkönen, Mikko, Renvall, Pertti
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 01-11-2005; Elsevier
• Subjects: Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Applied ecology; Basidiomycetes; Biodiversity; Biological and medical sciences; Boreal forests; Coarse woody debris; Conservation, protection and management of environment and wildlife; Dead wood; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Hot-spots; Parks, reserves, wildlife conservation. Endangered species: population survey and restocking; Polypores; Woodland key habitats; Europe; Finland; Coarse woody debris; Boreal forests; Hot-spots; Dead wood; Woodland key habitats; Polypores; Biodiversity; Boreal forest; Forest zone; Hot spot; Woodland key habitats: Polypores; National park; Habitat; Taiga; Environmental protection
• ISSN: 0006-3207; 1873-2917
• DOI: 10.1016/j.biocon.2005.06.002

Species diversity of polypores (Basidiomycetes) was compared between woodland key habitats (WKHs) and old-growth forest controls in boreal forests in eastern Finland. WKHs, which were set aside for their rich vascular plant flora, turned out not to be hot spots for the species richness of polypores, nor did their species composition represent the overall species richness of the area. Differences in the total volume of CWD, tree species composition and several CWD qualities were reflected as differences in the species assemblages between the groups. The results indicated that only a fraction of the overall polypore diversity was represented in the small-size WKHs (<0.5
ha), and the protection of red-listed and indicator polypores in WKHs was random. However, rare old-growth forest indicators were found even in small-size WKHs, if the CWD quality was appropriate for them. Nevertheless, our study does not answer the question whether the occurrences of rare and red-listed species will survive in small-size WKHs surrounded by altered environments such as clear-cuts, because our study sites were located in undisturbed areas. The results stress the importance to protect typical old-growth forest patches with high CWD volume and quality in boreal forests.