Spatial distribution of soil ergosterol in the organic layer of a mature Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) forest

The spatial structure of the organic layer fungal biomass estimated from soil ergosterol content of a 1 ha plot in a mature Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) forest was described from 181 samples and examined in relation to the organic layer properties (thickness, pH, total C, N, K, Mg and Ca) and two above-ground environmental factors: gap fraction, i.e. proportion of sky not shaded by trees directly above the sampling point and throughfall. Ergosterol content of the organic layer had a clear spatial dependence over the studied area, and the spatially structured autocorrelation variance accounted for up to 90% of total sample variance in a 4 m range. Most of the measured properties of the organic layer and the above ground environmental factors were also spatially dependent, although to varying degrees. The spatial pattern of ergosterol was most strongly related to pH, organic layer thickness and total C content. Our analyses did not show any direct influence of gap fraction and throughfall on ergosterol. However, gap fraction and throughfall were related to organic layer thickness indicating the importance of the associated factors (moisture, light, temperature, quality of litter) on forest litter decomposition.