Biology: The Unity and Diversity of Life
Biology: The Unity and Diversity of Life
15th Edition
ISBN: 9780357093795
Author: STARR
Publisher: CENGAGE LEARNING (CUSTOM)
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Chapter 23, Problem 1DAA
Summary Introduction

To determine: The tree species that was most often killed by A. ostoyae and least affected by it in control forests.

Introduction: Parasitic fungi attack plants and withdraw nutrients from them. Armillaria ostoyae (honey mushroom) is an example of fungal parasite. They attack the root systems of living trees. When the tree dies, the fungal parasite survives on the dead remains. The hyphae that grow from roots of infected trees and dead stumps invade roots of healthy plants leading to infection.

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Answer to Problem 1DAA

Correct answer: Larch tree species were most often killed by A. ostoyae, while birch trees were the least affected.

Explanation of Solution

A. ostoyae is a parasite of both living and dead trees. As given in the problem statement, Canadian forest pathologists tested their hypothesis that removing stumps after logging could help to prevent tree deaths. They made an experimental design. They removed stumps after logging from half of a forest and left stumps in the control area. They recorded tree deaths for almost more than 20 years. Refer Fig. 23.16, “Effect of stump removal on the spread of a fungal pathogen”, in the textbook. The graphical representation showed that long-term study of logging practices affects tree deaths by A. ostoyae. The experimental forest trees including stumps were removed and are shown as brown bars, and the control forest trees with stumps left behind are shown as blue bars. The data for percent cumulative mortality show that Larch tree species were often killed by A. ostoyae (approximately 27 %) in control forests. The tree species in control forests that were least affected by A. ostoyae were Birch trees (approximately 1 %).

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