Introduction to fungal succession

Abstract

This volume of Fungal Diversity is devoted to fungal succession. The term fungal succession is used loosely throughout the volume. A precise definition of fungal succession is 'the sequential occupation of the same site by thalli (usually mycelia)', but the term can be used more loosely to refer to 'the sequential occurrence of fungal fruiting bodies on substrata as it decays'. This volume brings together various studies on fungal succession including the traditionally studied macrofungi and the less well-studied microfungi. In this way we have brought together much of the data available on fungal succession. The final paper in this volume discusses the problems associated with studying fungal succession, especially in microfungi, and discusses possible methods to overcome these problems.