Consumption of hypogeous and epigeous fungi by the red squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris) in subalpine conifer forests

The consumption of epigeous and hypogeous fungi by red squirrels Sciurus vulgaris in subalpine conifer forests in the Alps was studied by determining the presence and taxa (genus level) of fungal spores in fecal samples. Nearly all live-trapped squirrels in summer and autumn had eaten fruit bodies of hypogeous fungi, but only some animals had consumed epigeous fungi of the genus Boletus and/or Laccaria. From two (spring) up to nine (summer–autumn) genera of hypogeous fungi were eaten. The mean number of genera of fungi and the mean number of spores per mg fecal material differed between study areas and seasons. Fruit bodies of hypogeous, and to a lesser extent epigeous, fungi seem to present an important seasonal food resource for red squirrels in conifer forests of the Alps. We suggest that squirrels, having large home range size and dispersal distances, are likely to play a major role as spore dispersal agent for hypogeous fungi.The consumption of epigeous and hypogeous fungi by red squirrels Sciurus vulgaris in subalpine conifer forests in the Alps was studied by determining the presence and taxa (genus level) of fungal spores in fecal samples. Nearly all live-trapped squirrels in summer and autumn had eaten fruit bodies of hypogeous fungi, but only some animals had consumed epigeous fungi of the genus Boletus and/or Laccaria. From two (spring) up to nine (summer-autumn) genera of hypogeous fungi were eaten. The mean number of genera of fungi and the mean number of spores per mg fecal material. differed between study areas and seasons. Fruit bodies of hypogeous, and to a lesser extent epigeous, fungi seem to present an important seasonal food resource for red squirrels in conifer forests of the Alps. We suggest that squirrels, having large home range size and dispersal distances, are likely to play a major role as spore dispersal agent for hypogeous fungi. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved