An ecological study of Morchella augusticeps and Morchella esculenta

This thesis is an ecological study of two species of larger fungi; Morchella augusticeps and Morchella esculenta. The study was conducted during the fruiting period of the fungi, May 11-16, 1970 in Osceola County, Michigan. The experimental variables were soil type, soil moisture, soil temperature at two levels, soil pH, relative humidity near ground level, light intensity, leaf litter depth, humus depth, higher plant associations and degree and direction of slope.The study shows that when each of the variables is within a certain range and operating simultaneously, these two morel species may produce fruiting bodies in abundance. The two species show different pH and associated tree preferences. A correlation between M. esculenta growth and the presence of dead American Elm was noted.