Abstract

GOMEZ REYES, Víctor Manuel et al. Effect of forest fires on the richness and species composition of macrofungi. Rev. Mex. Mic [online]. 2014, vol.39, pp.21-30. ISSN 0187-3180.

Forests fires can be either wild, prescribed or intentional and they are one of the most important threats to natural forests ecosystems in Mexico. In the years 2009 and 2010 approximately 70 ha of forests were burnt at the Barranca del Cupatitzio National Park in the municipality of Uruapan in the state of Michoacán. A study to follow development of macrofungi communities in burnt plots at this national park including changes in richness and composition of the macrofungal species associated was carried out. Three plots of 300 m² each were studied throughout three years (i.e. one year before and two years after the forests fires took place); 81 taxa of fungi were registered of which 10 are considered as pyrophilous. Results showed little differences in species richness composition in each plot before the fire; however a year before the fire and two years after the fire, great differences in species composition occurred (i.e. high temporal beta diversity). Results concluded that the macrofungal species composition is a good indicator of the intensity and effect of the fi re on forests communities.

Keywords : carbonicolous fungi; phoenicoid fungi; pyrophilous fungi; Barranca del Cupatitzio National Park; Michoacan.

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