METAL CONTENT OF FUNGAL SPOROCARPS FROM URBAN, RURAL, AND SLUDGE-TREATED SITES

Fungal sporocarps can influence metal cycling by the uptake of trace metals, which are then readily available for consumption and incorporation into higher food chain levels. This study was conducted to determine if increased sporocarp metal concentrations occurred relative to substrate metal availability in rural, urban, smelter impacted or municipal sewage sludge-treated sites. Fungal fruiting bodies were collected from rural forests, from urban forests receiving point-source metal pollution and from forests that had been treated with municipal sewage sludge. Metal concentrations in fungal sporocarps were found to be significantly higher on sewage sludge-treated sites when all species were considered. Smelter pollution and serpentinite soil, however, were also found to elevate some metals to levels similar to those found at sludge-amended areas. Overall, individual species appear to be the most important factor for predicting metal uptake from impacted soils and possible inclusion into food chains.