Fungal sporocarp mediated losses of Ca, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, N, P, and Zn from conifer logs in the early stages of decomposition

The export of mass and nutrients associated with the formation of fungal sporocarps during the first 7 years of decom-position of logs of four conifer species (Abies amabilis Dougl. ex Forbes, Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco, Thujaplicata D. Don, and Tsuga heterophylla (Raf.) Sarg.) was investigated in western Oregon. Abundance of the most com-mon fungal species, Naematoloma capnoides (Fr.:Fr.) P. Kumm, differed significantly with log species; the fun-gus was most abundant on Abies and least abundant on Thuja. Fungi increased concentrations of N, K, and P overthose found in associated logs by as much as 38, 115, and 136 times, respectively. Thus, a fair proportion of the ini-tial N (0.9-2.9%), K (1.8-4.5%), and P (1.9-6.6%) was transported out of logs via sporocarps at a time whenimmobilization would have been predicted from critical element ratios (e.g., C/N).