This experiment is designed to examine whether oak savanna supports a unique community of ectomycorrhizal fungi, a higher diversity of ectomycorrhizal fungi or a greater proportional abundance of ascomycete fungi compared with adjacent areas where the absence of fire has resulted in oak savanna conversion to oak forest.
Experiment Design
from: Dickie, I.A., B.T.M. Dentinger, P.G. Avis, D.J. McLaughlin, P.B. Reich. 2009. Ectomycorrhizal fungal communities of oak savanna are distinct from forest communities. Mycologia 101(4):473?483. DOI: 10.3852/08-178
We used a combined belowground and aboveground sampling of fungal structures. Sampling ectomycorrhizal roots belowground, with a combined morphotyping and RFLP approach, let us detect species such as hypogeous ascomycetes that were not detectable aboveground. Including aboveground sporocarp collections let us build a species list based on robust identifications with sporocarp vouchers, and permitted a much greater total area to be sampled. We sampled ectomycorrhizal fungi from six sites, three of which have had frequent controlled burns, and three of which have had no fire history during that period.
Data
Select Publications
Ectomycorrhizal fungal communities of oak savanna are distinct from forest communities
IA Dickie, BTM Dentinger, PG Avis, DJ McLaughlin, PB Reich
2009 Mycologia 101 (4), 473-483
Ectomycorrhizal fungal communities at forest edges
IAN A. DICKIE, PB Reich
2005 Journal of Ecology 93 (2), 244-255