The Interactive Effects of Drought and Fire on Soil Microbial Communities in a Semi-Arid Savanna

Peterson, M.; Pressler, Yamina; Knight, Charles; Hannusch, Heather; Lodge, Alexandra G.; Starns, Heath D.; Tolleson, Douglas R.; Blazier, John C.; Rogers, William E.; Smith, A. Peyton

doi:10.2139/ssrn.4019280

Cited by 1 publication

(5 citation statements)

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“…While we found minimal responses of total fungal richness to time‐since‐fire or fire frequency, several other studies have found that total fungal richness can dramatically decline after fire (Dooley & Treseder, 2012; Semenova‐Nelsen et al, 2019). Minimal responses could point to the resilience of fungal communities in semiarid ecosystems, having evolved under frequent fires and hot temperatures (Allen et al, 2011; Neary et al, 1999; Peterson et al, 2022). It could also suggest that fires in semiarid areas have lower effects of fire on fungal communities (Allen et al, 2011; Fultz et al, 2016; Neary et al, 1999) because fires are less intense, transfer less heat into the soils and soil property alterations post‐fire are minimal or short‐lived (Allen et al, 2011; Fultz et al, 2016; Neary et al, 1999).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…There were limited direct or indirect effects of time‐since‐fire and fire frequency on ectomycorrhizal richness, which contrasts from studies in mesic areas (Dove & Hart, 2017). Limited effects of fire could point to fire‐adapted semiarid ectomycorrhizal species due to co‐evolution with fire‐adapted hosts (Baynes et al, 2012) and regular fires (Allen et al, 2011; Neary et al, 1999; Peterson et al, 2022). Ectomycorrhizal fungi form partnerships with plants, and thus, their survival during and after fire events is largely tied to their plant host's survival (and vice versa) (Hart et al, 2005; Smith & Read, 2008).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Some studies support this idea (Haskins & Gehring, 2004;Peterson et al, 2022). For example, Peterson et al (2022) found no changes in fungal diversity between burnt and unburnt plots in a semiarid savannah and Haskins and Gehring (2004) found no changes in arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal inoculum levels between burnt and unburnt sites in a semiarid woodland. By contrast, others point to changes in fungal communities along the post-fire successional axis (Fultz et al, 2016;Glassman et al, 2023;Hinojosa et al, 2016;Muñoz-Rojas et al, 2016;O'Dea, 2007).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 96%

“…In semiarid environments, fungal communities are thought to be relatively resilient to fire because semiarid ecosystems have evolved alongside frequent fires and hot temperatures (Allen et al, 2011; Neary et al, 1999; Peterson et al, 2022). The nature of fires in semiarid areas is also thought to minimize the effects of fire on fungal communities (Allen et al, 2011; Fultz et al, 2016; Neary et al, 1999).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…For example, low soil moisture in semiarid soils can reduce the amount of heat transferred to soils, low plant biomass can reduce fire severity and soil property alterations postfire can be minimal or short-lived because of nutrient-poor soils (Allen et al, 2011;Fultz et al, 2016;Neary et al, 1999). Some studies support this idea (Haskins & Gehring, 2004;Peterson et al, 2022). For example, Peterson et al (2022) found no changes in fungal diversity between burnt and unburnt plots in a semiarid savannah and Haskins and Gehring (2004) found no changes in arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal inoculum levels between burnt and unburnt sites in a semiarid woodland.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Fire shapes fungal guild diversity and composition through direct and indirect pathways

et al. 2023

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Fire has shaped global ecosystems for millennia by directly killing organisms and indirectly altering habitats and resources. All terrestrial ecosystems, including fire‐prone ecosystems, rely on soil‐inhabiting fungi, where they play vital roles in ecological processes. Yet our understanding of how fire regimes influence soil fungi remains limited and our knowledge of these interactions in semiarid landscapes is virtually absent. We collected soil samples and vegetation measurements from sites across a gradient in time‐since‐fire ages (0–75 years‐since‐fire) and fire frequency (burnt 0–5 times during the recent 29‐year period) in a semiarid heathland of south‐eastern Australia. We characterized fungal communities using ITS amplicon‐sequencing and assigned fungi taxonomically to trophic guilds. We used structural equation models to examine direct, indirect and total effects of time‐since‐fire and fire frequency on total fungal, ectomycorrhizal, saprotrophic and pathogenic richness. We used multivariate analyses to investigate how total fungal, ectomycorrhizal, saprotrophic and pathogenic species composition differed between post‐fire successional stages and fire frequency classes. Time‐since‐fire was an important driver of saprotrophic richness; directly, saprotrophic richness increased with time‐since‐fire, and indirectly, saprotrophic richness declined with time‐since‐fire (resulting in a positive total effect), mediated through the impact of fire on substrates. Frequently burnt sites had lower numbers of saprotrophic and pathogenic species. Post‐fire successional stages and fire frequency classes were characterized by distinct fungal communities, with large differences in ectomycorrhizal species composition. Understanding the complex responses of fungal communities to fire can be improved by exploring how the effects of fire flow through ecosystems. Diverse fire histories may be important for maintaining the functional diversity of fungi in semiarid regions.

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