The Forest Mycology Team is located at the
Forestry Sciences Laboratory, Corvallis, OR, and is part of the
Ecosystem Processes Program of the PNW Research Station. The Team's
goals are to determine the ecological contribution of beneficial
symbiotic forest fungi to maintaining long- term site productivity,
sustaining the biological and functional diversity of forest fungi
within a range of forest management options, and developing the
technology to predict and enhance system recover after disruption of
soil microbial populations. To achieve these goals, basic research
focuses on the taxonomy, systematics, community structure, population
biology, biological diversity and ecosystem functions of forest fungi.
Applied and developmental research focuses on productivity and
sustainability of commercially harvested edible forest mushrooms
(nontimber forest products), effects of forest disturbance and
silvicultural options on fungal productivity and function, and
development of conservation strategies for rare and potentially
endangered forest fungi.
Mycological researchers from the Forest Service and
Oregon State University work cooperatively in this broad mycological
research program and bring considerable expertise to diverse aspects
in mycology. In addition to permanently staffed scientists and
tenured faculty, the team includes research associates and graduate
students in the Botany and Forest Science Departments. A list of
personnel, affiliations and research interests is privided at this
web site.
Survey and Manage Fungi in the Northwest Forest Plan:
New Challenges in Conservation Biology
The Survey and Manage guidelines in the Record of
Decision of the Northwest Forest Plan were designed to provide interim
protection and gain new distribution and habitat information for
approximately 400 poorly studied, rare, old-growth dependent species.
Fungi comprise the largest taxon group with 234 listed species. The
goal of the Survey and Manage guidelines is to quickly gain new
knowledge on these poorly known taxa through regional surveys so that
appropriate habitat conservation guidelines can be developed to negate
future Federal listing under the Endangered Species Act. The Forest
Mycology Team has taken the lead in developing interim management
recommendations and survey protocols, and conducting regional surveys
and assessments. The Team has also launched new research on
population biology of forest fungi and is developing predictive,
habitat based models for the management and conservation of these rare
taxa. An online poster and recent publications describe
the Survey and Manage process and current research.
Publications:
COMMERCIALLY HARVESTED EDIBLE FOREST MUSHROOMS
The commercial harvest of edible, forest fungi has
mushroomed into a multimillion dollar industry with several thousand
tons harvested annually. The development of this special forest
product industry has raised considerable controversy about how this
resource should be managed, especially on public lands. Concerns
center around destruction of forest habitat by repeated entry and
harvest, gradual loss of the mushroom resource by potential
over-harvest, conflict between recreational users and commercial
harvesters, and regulation and monitoring of future harvests. A key
to wisely managing the edible mushroom resource is common
understanding among resource managers, the mushroom industry, and the
concerned public about the biology of these unique forest organisms,
their ecological importance in forest ecosystems, and effects of
forest disturbance on their survival. Several recent publications
provide an overviews on the biology of forest fungi, describe the
major edible fungi harvested in the Pacific Northwest, integrate a
perspective on the social and economic aspects of the mushroom harvest
issue, summarize the development of the commercial mushroom industry,
and dicuss current research and monitoring protocols for developing
management guidelines. A poster available at this site summarizes
current research activities.
Available publications on Special Forest Product Fungi
- Molina, Randy; O'Dell, Thomas; Luoma, Daniel; Amaranthus,
Michael; Castellano, Michael; Russell, Kenelm. 1993. Biology,
ecology, and social aspects of wild edible mushrooms in the forests of
the Pacific Northwest: a preface to managing commercial harvest.
Gen. Tech. Rep. PNW-GTR-309. Portland, OR: U.S. Department of
Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station. 42p.
- Pilz, D. and R. Molina. 1996. Managing forest ecosystems to
conserve fungal diversity and sustain wild mushroom harvests.
Gen. Tech. Rep. PNW- GTR-371. Portland, OR: U.S. Department of
Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station. 104p.
- Hosford, D., D. Pilz, R. Molina, and M. Amaranthus. 1997.
Ecology and management of the commercially harvested American
matsutake mushroom. Gen. Tech. Rep. PNW- GTR-412. Portland, OR:
U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Northwest
Research Station. 68p.
- Pilz, D. and R. Molina. 1997. American matsutake mushroom
harvesting in the United States: Social aspects and opportunities for
sustainable development. In Mycology in Sustainable Development:
Expanding concepts, vanishing borders. Edited by M. Palm and
I. Chapela. Parkway Publishers, Inc., Boone, North Carolina.
pp. 68-75
- Molina, R., N. Vance, J. Weigand, D. Pilz, and M. Amaranthus.
1997. Special forest products: integrating social, economic, and
biological considerations into adaptive ecosystem management. In
Creating a forestry for the 21st century: the science of ecosystem
management. Edited by K. A. Kohm and J. F. Franklin. Island Press,
Covelo, CA pp. 315-336.
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