"The macrofungal communities of Irish native tree species (ash and oak) and exotic tree species (Scots pine and Sitka spruce) forests were examined through the collection of sporocarps over 3 yr.

… The species richness of non-native Sitka spruce and Scots pine forests was similar to that of native oak forests. However, specific communities of macrofungi existed in each of the forest types.

… The oak community lacked certain species/genera known to be distinctive of oak woods in Britain, possibly due to … historic removal of Ireland’s oak forest … (and that) non-native forests of Sitka spruce and Scots pine in Ireland harbour many fungal species which are not typical of native forests, particularly members of the genus Cortinarius."

The survey recorded 186 species of macrofungi, including 10 new to Ireland.