The effect of wildfires on wood-decay fungi in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park | [Advancements in life sciences • 2020]

Author(s):

1. Nawaf I. Ibrahim: Department of Biology, University of Hail,Hail -,Saudi Arabia

2. Abdel Moneim E. Sulieman: Department of Biology, University of Hail,Hail -,Saudi Arabia

3. Sami Hannachi: Department of Biology, University of Hail,Hail -,Saudi Arabia

4. Steven L. Stevenson: Department of Biological Sciences, University of Arkansas,Fayetteville, Arkansas,USA

Abstract:

Background: In late November and early December of 2019, wildfires occurred over portions of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. More than 4,000 ha were affected by the wildfires. The objective of the ackground: In late November and early December of 2019, wildfires occurred over portions of the Great research reported herein was to access the impact of these wildfires on the assemblages of wood-decay fungi associated with the study areas in the park. Methods: The investigated fungi were confined to two study areas; the first subjected to a relatively high intensity burn and the second subjected to a relatively low intensity burn. In addition to specimens of fungi obtained in the field, small pieces of coarse woody debris were assembled, brought back to the laboratory and placed in plastic chambers for incubation and kept moist. Over the course of two months, fruiting bodies appearing in these incubation chambers were observed and collected. All specimens from both the field and incubation chambers were identified from sequences of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of the ribosomal DNA. Results: A total of 31 different taxa were identified along with nine taxa reported previously as unknown and uncultured. However, almost all of these records were from the study area subjected to the relatively low intensity burn. Conclusion: The relatively high intensity burn site was almost completely devoid of wood-decay fungi.

Page(s): 73-77

DOI: DOI not available

Published: Journal: Advancements in life sciences, Volume: 8, Issue: 1, Year: 2020

Keywords:

ITS ribosomal DNA region , Great Smoky Mountains National Park , Wooddecay fungi

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