Effects of Mushroom 

 Harvest on Other 

 Resources 



buyers grade most mushrooms as higher quality if they are picked before full cap ex- 

 pansion. Only mature morel mushrooms have mature spores.^ The level of maturity 

 is often beyond that desirable for the commercial market. Although many sporo- 

 phores are missed by pickers and may produce mature spores, it is unknown whether 

 extensive harvest pressure will affect long-term reproduction. 



Trappe (1989) makes a strong case for overharvesting of truffles occurring when they 

 are located by raking the soil. Under natural conditions, primary spread of spores and 

 rejuvenation of the species is by animals eating the truffle fruiting body and dispersing 

 spores in feces. Raking disturbs the site and includes harvest of sporophores that are 

 immature. Observations by Trappe indicated marked reductions in production after 

 several years of heavy harvesting in western Oregon. The European technique of us- 

 ing trained dogs and pigs to hunt truffles is most apt to target the fragrant mature 

 specimens and leave those that are immature. 



As with truffles, some collectors of the pine or matsutake mushroom will use a rake to 

 expose the lower duff layers and find the small prized buttons of this species. This 

 mushroom is not known in the Blue Mountains, so duff scraping is not a problem here. 

 Wherever there is mushroom harvest by raking, the concern is not only for the effect 

 on the mushroom resource, but also for possible damage to other forest resources. 



Other forest resources may be affected by many people collecting and removing 

 mushrooms. Mushroom harvesting traffic can lead to road damage after heavy spring 

 rains. Broken gates and similar damage may occur also. 



Effect on the Mushroom 

 Resource From Timber 

 Harvesting 



In the Malheur National Forest, heavy concentration of pickers living in dispersed 

 campgrounds has been reported as a potential source for some environmental effects 

 (Volk 1 991 ). Although traffic-related damage has been observed as a result of heavy 

 use of dispersed camps during deer and elk hunting seasons, the total impacts asso- 

 ciated with both hunting and mushroom picking were considered minimal (Volk 1991). 



The spring morel season may closely coincide with elk calving in some cases. Dis- 

 turbances associated with many people walking through these areas may result in 

 some adverse effects on animals. Forest Service personnel in the Blue Mountains 

 have taken an aggressive approach in creating and maintaining secure areas during 

 elk calving. Large blocks of forested areas are closed to road vehicle travel and all- 

 terrain vehicle offroad use. 



Because some prized mushrooms are mycorrhizal, there is concern that timber har- 

 vesting will decrease the availability of certain mushrooms. There is also the similar 

 concern that removal of mycorrhizal mushrooms may affect tree growth. The popula- 

 tion of fungi on forested sites likely will change substantially as communities go 

 through successive stages of plant succession. Those mushrooms requiring cool, 

 moist conditions associated with mature forests are less likely to be found on sites 

 that have recently had a regeneration harvest. Similarly, those fungi associated with 

 disturbed communities will occur soon after timber harvest but disappear as a regener- 

 ated stand develops on the site. Thus, mushrooms are part of the diversity of plants 



* Personal communication. 1996. Nancy Weber, assistant 

 professor, Forest Science Department. Oregon State Uni- 

 versity, Corvallis, OR 97331. 



12 



