The Soil Microfungi of Upland Boreal Forest at Candle Lake, Saskatchewan

Abstract

SUMMARYThe soil microfungi of upland boreal forest at Candle Lake, Saskatchewan, were surveyed by using a dilution plate technique. Altogether 113 taxonomic entities were isolated, most of these being quantitatively rare forms. The most prevalent species found were Mortierella vinacea, M. isabellina, M. ramanniana, Pullularia pullulans, Triehoderma viride, T. album, Chrysosporium sp., Penieillium frequentans, P. pinetorum and P. kapuseinskii. Together these accounted for over 60% of the total isolates. The microfungi showed a pattern of continuous variation among the forest communities sampled, but it was not possible to demonstrate a clear correlation between the composition of microfungal communities and the dominant vegetation. The results are discussed particularly in relation to comparable surveys of microfungi that have been carried out in Wisconsin.