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RE: The Amateur Mycologist Tree Health Special - A Crash Course In Trees, Fungal Infections, And The Ailing Giants Of Central Park
At least with some butt rots (like the Dyer's Polypore, Phaeolus schweinitzii) in the coniferous forests of the US West), the fungi is ubiquitous. Most trees in a stand have it. It's only when the tree is compromised, like from damage to exposed roots from fire (or in a park, by being hit with a mower), or just gets old, that the fungus finally has an impact. It's part of the natural ecological process of forests. For parks, it means constantly planting new trees - or maybe not mowing the grass so short around some of these older trees. It would be nice if parks could leave the old trees with their fungi, because they provide habitat and food for whole other parts of the ecosystem.
@fabulousfungi brought up some similar points elsewhere in the comments - and that is the dilemma of even a park like Central Park - they are leaving many trees up with fungi intact - all of the ones in these photos for instance - but because its only a "sort of" ecosystem, i wonder whether that's the right move or not.
Unfortunately for the many street trees around the city, they live in relative isolation and with a lot of physical abuse. I suppose the fact that any of them live several decades is a miracle in the first place.
Thanks! I live in a coniferous rain forest and I was just feeling guilty by the fact that I love peering at the various fungi and lichen. It's possible that many of the trees that fall on our property were infected but when they fall we use them for the next year's firewood. This year we didn't need to cut any trees down, the fallen trees were enough. Whoohoo! We are the ecosystem! ;-)