Community Differentiation Along a Dune Succession: An Experimental Approach With Corprophilous Fungi

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Abstract
Exposure of laboratory—collected rabbit feces in different habitats associated with a dune succession in Presque Isle State Park, Erie, Pennsylvania, USA, affected the structure and composition of the coprophilous fungal communities developing on these feces. Nylon mesh litter bags containing 4—g samples of rabbit feces, the latter incorporating a similar fungal inoculum, were exposed in the field for either 2— or 4—wk intervals throughout the summer of 1975. This was followed by a 40—d incubation in laboratory moist chambers, during which time the development (sporulation) of fungal populations was studied and the frequency of occurrence of fungal taxa recorded. Community analysis was accomplished by position vectors ordination, and analysis of species diversity values. Experimental evidence is offered for the first time that microclimatic amelioration and stabilization in later stages of ecosystem development can be important in determining microfungal diversity. Community diversity increased when dune habitat and/or exposure interval were associated with a less stressful environment (i.e., presence of vegetational cover or greater available moisture).

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