The red-scaled curtain fungus and chanterelle: acidification of forests

The red-scaled curtain fungus and chanterelle, both woodland species that declined dramatically from the 1960s, now seem to be making a comeback.

Trends in the chanterelle

The chanterelle used to be common, but has become much scarcer since the 1960s. It too showed a recovery in 2000, albeit less than the red-scaled curtain fungus. The species lives in symbiosis with various deciduous and coniferous tree species (mainly oak and Scots pine) in forests on nutrient-poor sandy soil.

Trends in the red-scaled curtain fungus

Until the 1960s the red-scaled curtain fungus was fairly common in Dutch forests. But in the period 1969-1999 there were very few sightings (0-11 per year). In autumn 2000 there was a surge in sightings (33 times). The fungus is a mycorrhizal species of oak and beech in forests on nutrient-poor sandy soil.

Causes

The sharp decline in woodland fungi is attributable to acidifying and eutrophying compounds. At present, many woodland fungi are still primarily found outside woodlands, in infertile roadside verges where there are trees. It is thought that eutrophication is the most important cause of the decline of mycorrhizal fungi. The latter are fungi living in symbiosis with trees. Some 77% of this species group are on the Red List of fungi, mostly in the categories "endangered", "critical" or "extinct in the Netherlands".

In 2000 more mycorrhizal fungi were found than in the previous 10 years - largely in verges with trees and less often in woodland. Preliminary statistics (not incorporated in the figure) indicate the same pattern for 2001. The increase in the number of sightings was not confined to the red-scaled curtain fungus and chanterelle, but was also found in other species. The favourable weather in 2000 contributed to this, but it is also thought that the resurgence is the result of the improved quality of the environment (reduced deposition of sulphur dioxide and, to a lesser degree, of nitrogen).

Both the red-scaled curtain fungus and the chanterelle are on the Red List of fungi.