Ecology

Ecological features are frequently very important for the characterization of ectomycorrhizae, but often very difficult to obtain, since it is necessary to observe the immediate position and surroundings of the ectomycorrhizae due to most of the time very heterogeneous soil structures and growing conditions.

Are observations of the soil type and of the material preferrably inhabited by the ectomycorrhizae still rather easy to obtain, so measurements of pH are not frequently done in the course of taking soil cores or during excavation procedures. But also rough estimates may be of considerable value. Whether fungi show a special co-growth with other species can only be ascertained after observations done for several years or using information sampled by experienced field taxonomists or by mushroom-pickers.