2006 Fungi of Fingal Woodlands - Fingal Biodiversity

Ecological Study of the Countryside Habitats in County Fingal Woodland fungi
Chapter 5 Recommendations
5.1 Woodland management
Clear felling of woodlands and excessive pruning or pollarding should be avoided to maintain a
diverse fungi and lichen community. These management operations remove the habitat and
substrate for fungi and lichens and should therefore only be carried out on a small scale over a
number of years. This will allow the species to survive elsewhere in the woodland and in time can
re-colonise areas where woodland management works were undertaken.
The potential for planting appropriate, perhaps even inoculated parkland trees could improve the
fungal health and diversity of a woodland. One species that had a surprising limited distribution in
these parks was Hazel. This understorey species is a host to many fungi and lichens and therefore it
is recommended to promote the spread of Hazel in all woodland sites. The Hazel stock should be
sourced from local woodlands as much as possible. An increase of other important host species such
as Birch and Oak is also recommended.
Standing and lying dead wood is an important resource for saprobic fungi and as shelter for wasps,
woodlice, mice and owls among others. It is important however that only limited amounts of dead
wood be left lying near populations of Armillaria mellea (Honey fungus) or other parasitic fungi.
Currently, Honey fungus occurs localised within the woodland, but this species could become a
serious problem to nearby living trees if allowed to spread vigorously by means of dead wood.
It is recommended that a certain amount of Ivy control is carried out in the woodlands, particularly
in Newbridge and St. Catherine’s. This measure should go hand in hand with research on Ivy and its
effects on fungi and lichen diversity. The research element is described in more detail in paragraph
5.2.
An important group of fungi missing from the four woodland sites are associated with animal dung.
The introduction of animals to sites may not be feasible with amenity use of these parks, but
nonetheless it is recommended to look into the possibilities for animals (seasonally) grazing the
woodlands. When horses were superceded by motorised vehicles, horse-associated fungi like
Agaricus arvensis suffered decreased ranges.
5.2 Research,
Progress in conservation depends on progress in taxonomy, and in our understanding of distribution
and ecology. With many of our university teaching staff nearing retirement or just retired, there are
few opportunities for students to receive training in fungal taxonomy in Ireland. Fungi are perceived
to be a difficult biological group partly because fungal nomenclature and species concepts are more
fluid than for vascular plants.
Fingal County Council can assist in expanding our knowledge on fungi and lichen communities in
Ireland by commissioning more fungi surveys in woodland sites in Fingal or more in-depth studies
such as:
• The Spring fungal flush, and the range of different species that appear with different weather
conditions
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