DEAD TREES IN BEECH STANDS OF THE BIESZCZADY NATIONAL PARK: QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE STRUCTURE OF ASSOCIATED MACROFUNGI

The quantitative and qualitative structure of dead standing trees and coarse woody debris as well as the occurrence of associated macrofungi were analysed in beech stands of the Bieszczady National Park. On average, 55.55 m(3)/ha of dead wood, of which 64% was coarse woody debris, was found in three study plots. Elevation above sea level and distance from the upper treeline had a significant impact on the quantitative and qualitative structure of dead trees in the stand. When approaching the upper treeline, the thickness of the coarse woody debris decreased, and the share of the dead standing trees increased. Similarly, the type of dead tree distribution in the study area changed from random in the lowermost stand, to regular in the middle range of elevation above sea level, and to clustered in the uppermost plot. The majority of coarse woody debris was in the II and IV degrees of decomposition, whereas dead standing trees were usually in the 4th stage of decomposition. A total of 30 species of macromycete fungi were recorded, including 4 from the list of endangered species. Tinder fungus (Fomes fomentarius (L.) Fr.) was the most frequently observed species. It was shown that the species diversity of fungi is closely associated with the quality of dead trees. Most fungal taxa were recorded on coarse woody debris in the IV degree of decomposition and on dead standing trees in the 3rd stage of decomposition.