| dc.description.abstract | Since the 1940s, stand-based forest management, including clear-cutting, has been the predominant practice in Norway, with approximately 60% of Norwegian forests having undergone at least one cycle of clear-cutting. This forestry practice has led to a significant loss of natural forest structure and coarse dead wood, which are crucial for maintaining natural, ecological processes. Wood-inhabiting fungi (saproxylic fungi) play an important role in forest ecosystems. They decompose dead wood and contribute to nutrient cycling, while their diversity and abundance may give an indication of the forest's biodiversity status.
This thesis aims to investigate the impacts of historical logging activities on the biodiversity of wood-inhabiting fungi in boreal forests, comparing mature forests that previously have been clear-cut with near-natural forests. The field study involved conducting surveys in 12 pairs of forest sites. Each pair consisted of an old, near-natural forest (NN) and a mature production forest established through clear-cutting (CC). All sites were situated in south-eastern Norway and represented bilberry-type spruce-dominated forest. The surveys included registering the number of cut stumps and coring of living trees, supported by pre-existing datasets on dead wood and biodiversity.
Near-natural forests had significantly higher species richness of wood-inhabiting fungi compared to previously clear-cut forests. The study also explored the correlation between volume and diversity of dead wood and biodiversity, confirming that greater volumes and diversity of dead wood were associated with higher species richness. Red-listed species were predominantly found in the near-natural forests. No statistical evidence directly linked management type to species composition, although a pattern suggesting a potential effect of management type was observed. These results offer valuable insights for forest management practices, highlighting the importance of preserving natural forest structures, especially dead wood, to enhance biodiversity. | |
