The role and use of ectomycorrhizal fungus biodiversity as an indicator of sustainable forestry

Many different indicators'' of forest health are used and have been proposed. One of the most recently proposed methods, being suggested in Canada and Europe is to use fungi as a marker. The means to preserving forests and forest biodiversity are to protect the soil quality and the genetic information pool. How well nutrient balance and biodiversity are being preserved can be assessed through soil quality analysis; the health of trees; and the overall animal, plant, and fungus biodiversity. A common, important denominator for all three analyses in the diversity of ectomycorrhizal fungi. The mycorrhizae provide a number of different benefits to the tree and the stability of the ecosystem as a whole. If they are preserved in a healthy condition, ectomycorrhizal fungi are a very good indicator of preserved soil quality and ecological diversity. Fungi are degraders and they will not be present if the organic materials that they degrade are present. A rich mycota is thus a sign of a forest that has existed for many years and has created a large variety of small niches and habitats for fungi as well as for animals and plants. It seems, therefore, logical to use the ectomycorrhizal fungi as anmore » indicator of the forest condition.« less