Meteorological conditions and site characteristics driving edible mushroom production in Pinus pinaster forests of Central Spain

Abstract

Integrating fungal-based ecosystem services into forest management planning and policy-making requires quantitative knowledge of the yields of fungal sporocarps and their environmental drivers. The aim of this study was to predict edible mushroom yield in Pinus pinaster forests of Central Spain, based on a 17-year data series. Two-stage mixed-effects models were used to examine the effect of predictors on mushroom occurrence and yield separately with the aim of providing further insight into the ecological system. Changes in seasonal precipitation represented the main weather-related driver affecting sporocarp emergence and production, since they were both positively influenced by late summer and early autumn precipitation. Soil acidity positively influenced Lactarius yield. Stand age and sandy soils showed a negative influence on mushroom production. The diversity of drivers became more apparent at the fungal species level. The models can be used for predicting the production of edible fungi under different meteorological and site conditions. ; This study was partially funded by the research projects AGL2012-40035-C03-01 and AGL2012-40035-C03-03 (Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad of Spain, Secretaría de Estado de Investigaci on, Desarrollo e Innovaci on), by the Micosylva þ project (Interreg IVB SUDOE SOE3/P2/E533), and by the Mycological Programme of Castilla y Leon (www.micocyl.es). This study also received funding from the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme within the framework of the Multi- FUNGtionality Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowship (IFEF) under grant agreement No 655815. This work further benefited from the Erasmus Mundus Master Course MEDFOR (Mediterranean Forestry and Natural Resources Management) (520137-1-2011-1- PT-ERA MUNDUS-EMMC), which provided one scholarship to Mr. Zelalem Mengiste Taye. The inventory and monitoring of the sample plots was funded by Junta de Castilla y Leon and ADEMA from 1997 to 2007, and by Junta de Castilla y Leon and CESEFOR from 2007 to 2014.