Basidiomycetes at the timberline in Lapland 1. Introduction

Abstract

Basidiomycetes, especially the wood-inhabiting fungi, were studied in the Värriö Strict Nature Reserve, the Urho Kekkonen National Park and adjacent areas in Finnish East Lapland, which contain some of the last remnants or primeval, Northern Boreal forest at and near the alpine and polar timberline. The qualitative and quantitative composition of the fungi, as indicated by their fruit body production, was studied in naturally regenerating virgin forests and the area of a fairly recent forest fire, special auention being paid both to species recognized as threatened in Finland and to potentially threatened fungi. The area is also affected by long-distance air pollution from the mining and metal industry in the western Murmansk Region, Russia. The main woody plants decayed by basidiornycetes in the region are Pinus sylvestris L., Picea abies (L.) Karsten subsp. obovata (Ledeb.) Domin and Betula pubescens Ehrh. subsp. czerepanovii (Orlova) Hämet-Ahti. A general biogeographical and ecological outline of the study area is presented.