The relationship between forest age and aspect on the production of sporocarps of ectomycorrhizal fungi in Pinus sylvestris forests of the central Pyrenees

Due to increasing economic interest in forest fungi as important non-wood forest products, autumn mushrooms from Pinus sylvestris forests of the Spanish Pyrenees were collected for three consecutive years to examine the relationships between forest age and aspect on the sporocarp production of epigeous edible and ectomycorrhizal fungi. Fresh weight, dry weight and number of sporocarps were recorded from thirty-six 100 m(2) forest plots with a range of seven age classes and four aspects. The 9073 sporocarps collected represent 164 taxa and 34 genera. Age class was observed to be an influential factor for 21 taxa and aspect for 7 taxa. We gave special attention to edible and marketed mushrooms, particularly Lactarius deliciosus, which is the most widely collected species from these forests. Edible marketed-species comprise 20% of the total fresh weight yield. Species richness and distribution are presented, providing a baseline inventory for this forest community. There is a positive relationship between sporocarp yield (fresh weight, dry weight or number of sporocarps) and species richness for individual plots. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.