Symbiotic associations between mammals and fungi have been well documented and are widely regarded as vital to ecosystem functions around the world.Symbioses between birds and fungi are also ecologically vital but hav...Symbiotic associations between mammals and fungi have been well documented and are widely regarded as vital to ecosystem functions around the world.Symbioses between birds and fungi are also ecologically vital but have been far less thoroughly studied.This manuscript is the first to review a wide range of symbiotic associations between birds and fungi.We compile the largest list to date of bird species reported to eat fungi(54 bird species in 27 families)and follow up with a discussion of these symbioses and suggestions for how future studies can determine the prevalence of associations between birds and fungi.We review the importance of fungi for cavity-excavating birds and show that at least 30 bird species in three families form varying levels of associations with fungi for cavity excavation.We also review the use of fungal rhizomorphs in nest construction and show that 176 bird species in 37 families use fungal material in their nests.All of these interactions have wide-reaching ecosystem implications,particularly in regard to fungal dispersal and biogeography,plant health,ecosystem function,bird nutrition/fitness and bird behaviour.展开更多
Truffle-like fungi are highly diverse yet poorly known in Australia.To assess the species richness,biomass,and community assemblages of truffle-like fungi in different habitats we sampled sporocarps of truffle-like fu...Truffle-like fungi are highly diverse yet poorly known in Australia.To assess the species richness,biomass,and community assemblages of truffle-like fungi in different habitats we sampled sporocarps of truffle-like fungi in three eucalypt-dominated forest types(grassy woodland,wet sclerophyll forest,and dry sclerophyll forest)once in summer and once in winter,at two sites(Mount Kaputar and New England)in northern New South Wales,Australia.One hundred and eighteen species in 35 genera were collected;over half(51.7%)of the species were undescribed.Grassy woodland and wet forest communities had greater species richness and a lower standing crop than dry forest communities.Species richness and standing crop was greater in winter than in summer.Overall,species from the family Russulaceae,and the genera Dermocybe,Descomyces,and Hysterangium were dominant.Community composition varied among forest types and each forest type exhibited a suite of unique and common species,although much variation was unexplained.Variation in community structure was associated with some habitat attributes;at Mount Kaputar,woody plant species richness,canopy cover,litter depth,soil phosphorous,and elevation helped explain the sporocarp communities of different forest types,while at New England,woody plant species richness,rainfall,topographic aspect,soil texture,and soil nitrogen helped explain communities.This work contributes to knowledge of trufflelike fungal diversity,the factors affecting sporocarp distribution across landscapes,and the availability of sporocarps as a food resource for mycophagous mammals.Greater understanding of fungal diversity and mammal-fungal interactions also has important implications for managing forest biodiversity.展开更多
文摘Symbiotic associations between mammals and fungi have been well documented and are widely regarded as vital to ecosystem functions around the world.Symbioses between birds and fungi are also ecologically vital but have been far less thoroughly studied.This manuscript is the first to review a wide range of symbiotic associations between birds and fungi.We compile the largest list to date of bird species reported to eat fungi(54 bird species in 27 families)and follow up with a discussion of these symbioses and suggestions for how future studies can determine the prevalence of associations between birds and fungi.We review the importance of fungi for cavity-excavating birds and show that at least 30 bird species in three families form varying levels of associations with fungi for cavity excavation.We also review the use of fungal rhizomorphs in nest construction and show that 176 bird species in 37 families use fungal material in their nests.All of these interactions have wide-reaching ecosystem implications,particularly in regard to fungal dispersal and biogeography,plant health,ecosystem function,bird nutrition/fitness and bird behaviour.
基金funded by a Hermon Slade Foundation grant(HSF08-6,to KV,TL,and MD)an Australian Research Council Discovery Grant(DP0557022 to KV)additional funding from University of New England.MD was supported by an Australian Postgraduate Award.Research was conducted under New South Wales National Parks and Wildlife Service scientific license(S12493).
文摘Truffle-like fungi are highly diverse yet poorly known in Australia.To assess the species richness,biomass,and community assemblages of truffle-like fungi in different habitats we sampled sporocarps of truffle-like fungi in three eucalypt-dominated forest types(grassy woodland,wet sclerophyll forest,and dry sclerophyll forest)once in summer and once in winter,at two sites(Mount Kaputar and New England)in northern New South Wales,Australia.One hundred and eighteen species in 35 genera were collected;over half(51.7%)of the species were undescribed.Grassy woodland and wet forest communities had greater species richness and a lower standing crop than dry forest communities.Species richness and standing crop was greater in winter than in summer.Overall,species from the family Russulaceae,and the genera Dermocybe,Descomyces,and Hysterangium were dominant.Community composition varied among forest types and each forest type exhibited a suite of unique and common species,although much variation was unexplained.Variation in community structure was associated with some habitat attributes;at Mount Kaputar,woody plant species richness,canopy cover,litter depth,soil phosphorous,and elevation helped explain the sporocarp communities of different forest types,while at New England,woody plant species richness,rainfall,topographic aspect,soil texture,and soil nitrogen helped explain communities.This work contributes to knowledge of trufflelike fungal diversity,the factors affecting sporocarp distribution across landscapes,and the availability of sporocarps as a food resource for mycophagous mammals.Greater understanding of fungal diversity and mammal-fungal interactions also has important implications for managing forest biodiversity.
