New publication online: Heine P. et al.
*New publication online: Heine P. et al.*
Analyzing fungal diversity and community composition through environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding and
high-throughput sequencing relies on sequence databases and their taxonomic coverage which are often doubted
in regards of data accuracy. To assess the potential of eDNA metabarcoding to distinguish differently managed
forest conversion stages, we compared an extant morphological dataset created through sporocarp surveys with a
metabarcoding dataset from the same study sites. The study was conducted along a spruce forest conversion
project of Norway spruce towards European beech in the Eifel National Park in Germany. Using the UNITE ITS
reference database, a total of 198 fungal operational taxonomic units (OTUs) were assigned up to the species
level. Comparing the morphological and metabarcoding dataset, a low species overlap was observed with 27
shared fungi. The metabarcoding dataset revealed that all investigated forest conversion management stages
shared beech-associated fungi (even the spruce forests), while within the morphological dataset, only the beech-
inhabiting forest conversion management stages showed beech-associated fungi. The metabarcoding dataset
could not show the same fungal community response patterns on the spruce forest conversion, compared to the
morphological dataset, but revealed the genetic refugium of the soil fungal community. We conclude that fungal
eDNA metabarcoding should always be evaluated by taxonomic experts to identify potential sequence database
errors. eDNA metabarcoding cannot be used interchangeably for morphological community analyses to identify
response patterns of fungal communities on forest management strategies. However, both approaches performed
well in combination and showed that beech-associated fungal communities with high functional redundancy can
develop after a spruce forest conversion by restoring natural European beech forests with an appropriate close-to-
nature management strategy.
Heine P., Hausen J., Ottermanns R., Roß-Nickoll M. (2021): Comparing eDNA metabarcoding with morphological analyses: Fungal species richness and community composition of differently managed stages along a forest conversion of Norway spruce towards European beech in Germany. Forest Ecology and Management, 496: 119429 + 497: 119495. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2021.119429