Rapid and Recent Changes in Fungal Fruiting Patterns

• Published in: Science (American Association for the Advancement of Science) Vol. 316; no. 5821; p. 71
• Main Authors: Gange, A.C, Gange, E.G, Sparks, T.H, Boddy, L
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Washington, DC American Association for the Advancement of Science 06.04.2007; The American Association for the Advancement of Science
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; Brevia; Climate change; Coniferophyta - microbiology; Coniferous forests; Deciduous forests; Ecology; Ecosystem; England; Forests; Fruiting; Fruiting Bodies, Fungal - growth & development; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Fungi; Fungi - growth & development; Mycology; Mycorrhizae - growth & development; Plant physiology and development; Rain; Regression coefficients; Seasons; Sexual reproduction; Spring; Temperature; Time; Time Factors; Trees - microbiology; Vegetative and sexual reproduction, floral biology, fructification; England; United Kingdom; Great Britain; Europe; Fungi; Warming; Sporophore; Development; Basidiomycetes; Climate modification; Mycelium; Thallophyta
• ISSN: 0036-8075; 1095-9203
• DOI: 10.1126/science.1137489

Information on responses of higher organisms to climate change is dominated by events in spring. Far less is known about autumnal events and virtually nothing about communities of microorganisms. We analyzed autumnal fruiting patterns of macrofungi over the past 56 years and found that average first fruiting date of 315 species is earlier, while last fruiting date is later. Fruiting of mycorrhizal species that associate with both deciduous and coniferous trees is delayed in deciduous, but not in coniferous, forests. Many species are now fruiting twice a year, indicating increased mycelial activity and possibly greater decay rates in ecosystems.