Premium
Epigeous macrofungal succession in the first five years following a wildfire in karri ( Eucalyptus diversicolor ) regrowth forest in Western Australia
Author(s) -
ROBINSON RICHARD M.,
MELLICAN AMANDA E.,
SMITH ROBERT H.
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
austral ecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.688
H-Index - 87
eISSN - 1442-9993
pISSN - 1442-9985
DOI - 10.1111/j.1442-9993.2008.01853.x
Subject(s) - ecological succession , epigeal , species richness , ecology , chronosequence , eucalyptus , geography , forestry , fire regime , secondary succession , disturbance (geology) , biology , ecosystem , paleontology
Abstract Following a wildfire in 17–25‐year‐old regrowth karri ( Eucalyptus diversicolor ) forest in the southwest of Western Australia, plots were established in burnt and similarly aged unburnt forest to monitor the fruiting of macrofungi. Thirty‐six plots on 10 sites (five burnt, five unburnt) were surveyed over a 5‐year period. Plots were surveyed every 2 weeks in the macrofungal fruiting season (April to October) and monthly for the remainder of each year. A total of 332 species were recorded. Fire did not impact significantly on mean species richness. However, a distinct mycoflora was recorded on burnt sites, and species composition on burnt sites changed substantially for each year following the fire and after 5 years was still different from that on unburnt sites. Nineteen percent of species recorded were regarded as being present as a direct result of the fire. The study also demonstrated the variable nature of macrofungal sporophore production in the absence of disturbance and the importance of regular sampling. Five distinct succession groups of post‐fire fungi were recognized. The adaptive traits of post‐fire fungi in relation to fire and the management of fire for macrofungal diversity are discussed.