Ecology of Fungi in Wildland Soils along the Mauna Loa Transect

Abstract

The distribution of fungi in soils along the Mauna Loa Transect was determined by an approach employing specific fungal reference genera, selective isolation methods, and a combination of analytical techniques. Two sets of transect zones were determined on the basis of fungal distribution. The influence of environmental factors, particularly those relating to soil, vascular plant communities, and climate, are interpreted according to distribution patterns. The distribution of fungal groups coincided clearly with vascular plant communities of the transect as defined by other studies. Features of the structure, stability, and development of fungal communities, and of the ecological roles of certain fungi are indicated by the results. The composition, spatial distribution, and environmental relationships of fungal communities along the Mauna Loa Transect are compared with situations in other insular and continental ecosystems in order to further characterize and elucidate the ecology of the Hawaiian soil-borne mycoflora. An overall evaluation of the research indicates that the selective methods employed to evaluate fungal distribution represent an effective approach to ecosystem analysis on a broad scale.