The fungus is important to forest ecosystem processes. By killing trees, it opens up gaps in the forest that allow different species to move in. It also provides habitats for animals. For example, dead trees that are still standing will rot out in the middle and animals such as woodpeckers can come and make their homes there. The huge size of this fungus may be related to the dry climate in eastern Oregon, Dr Dreisbach said.
Spores have a hard time establishing new organisms, making room for the old-timers to spread.
To minimise tree mortality near the fungus, forest managers looking to protect their timber production will plant less susceptible tree species such as western larch and ponderosa pine, and harvest susceptible hosts such as Douglas fir and true fir during thinning.