Ectomycorrhizal colonization of Picea engelmannii × Picea glauca seedlings planted across cut blocks of different sizes

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Abstract
The purpose of this study, carried out at the Sicamous Creek Silvicultural Systems Trial located in the southern Interior of British Columbia, was to investigate the effects of cut block size and distance from the forest edge on patterns of ectomycorrhizal colonization and diversity at a subalpine forest. Non-mycorrhizal Picea engelmannii Parry ex Engelm. × Picea glauca (Moench) Voss seedlings were planted across cut blocks of three sizes (0.1, 1.0, and 10 ha) and in the uncut forest. In 1996 and 1997, seedlings were harvested after 13 weeks and examined for mycorrhizae. In 1996, diversity and richness of ectomycorrhizal types were significantly greater at forest plots and at plots located 2 m from the forest edge as compared with plots located >16 m into the cut block. In 1997, richness was again significantly reduced beyond 2 m. No differences in any of the diversity measures were detected between the different cut block sizes. The results of this study suggest that proximity to overstory trees may be more important than cut block size for patterns of ectomycorrhizal diversity and colonization. Additionally, polymerase chain reaction - restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis was used to assess the accuracy of morphotyping and, in some cases, to identify the associated fungus by comparison with RFLP patterns generated by sporocarps.