Soil fungi associated with Halimium lasianthum in Mediterranean ecosystems, including Boletus edulis, are largely unaffected by wildfire prevention treatments in the long-term

Abstract

Mediterranean ecosystems are frequently invaded by pyrophytic scrubs that colonize areas traditionally used by livestock. This considerably increases the risk of wildfires in these ecosystems and the consequent loss of their ecological and economic value. Mushrooms can play important economic as well as ecological roles in these ecosystems. To investigate the long-term effect of two different forest fire prevention treatments on the soil fungal community, we analyzed these communities 9 years after prescribed burning or mechanical shredding had been carried out in scrubland dominated by Halimium lasianthum, Pterospartum tridentatum, and Erica australis. We also analyzed environmental variables that may influence soil fungal communities. Remarkably, the highly prized, edible, ectomycorrhizal mushroom Boletus edulis, which is associated with these Mediterranean systems, was not affected by the fire prevention treatments. Furthermore, neither of the fire prevention treatments had a negative effect on the abundance or richness of ectomycorrhizal fungi. Soil fertility significantly affected the distribution of fungi according to their functional groups, and pH was the most influential variable in terms of the distribution of edible species. Prior to this study, B. edulis had rarely been recorded in this forest system. Our findings indicate that forest management practices to prevent forest fires are compatible with enhancing the production of edible fungi and, hence, could be an interesting way of reducing the risk of wildfires while increasing the incomes of local populations.