Analysis of wood decaying in an Atlantic forest fragment: substrate characterization, fungal community structure and succession process

• Grant number: 15/13240-5
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• Start date: April 01, 2016
• End date: July 29, 2019
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Ecology
• Principal Investigator: Adriana de Mello Gugliotta
• Grantee: Ricardo Matheus Pires
• Host Institution: Instituto de Botânica. Secretaria de Meio Ambiente, Infraestrutura e Logística (São Paulo - Estado). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated scholarship(s): 17/27063-3 - Fungal community inhabiting dead branches using high-throughput sequencing, BE.EP.DR

Abstract

Wood is a fraction of the biomass of inestimable importance for structuring the natural forest environment, it is an essential element in the carbon cycle. Wood decaying is back this carbon to the atmosphere and fungi are one of the main agents of this process, being benefited by temperature, humidity and low levels of extractives present in the wood. This study aims to understand the process of decaying of wood in an Atlantic forest fragment, assessing the variation of species of fungi that occur over two years of study and the range of biochemicals (lignin, cellulose, hemicellulose, others sugars and proteins) present in the branches of three tree species present in the area. It also aims to evaluate possible differences in decomposition rates inside the forest fragment and at the forest edges and what the effect of urban impact (matrix) in the structure of fungal community and in the process of decomposition.