Abstract

CHIMAL-SANCHEZ, Eduardo; ARAIZA-JACINTO, Maria Luisa  and  ROMAN-CARDENAS, Víctor Joel. Fire effect on arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi species richness associated with plants of desert scrubland in the Eco Park "Cubitos". TIP [online]. 2015, vol.18, n.2, pp.107-115. ISSN 1405-888X.

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are essential for the functioning of ecosystems, including arid and semiarid. This research evaluated fire effect on AMF species richness associated with Cylindropuntia imbricata , Mimosa biuncifera and Zaluziana augusta. In the Eco Park "Cubitos" in Pachuca, Hidalgo, two xeric shrublands were selected: i) conserved and ii) disturbed by wildfire. At each site and in three individuals of C. imbricata , M. biuncifera , Z. augusta and open areas (OA, no plants), soil samples (1 kg) were collected to determine the taxonomic richness of AMF by genus and specie, as well as soil humidity and pH. These variables were analyzed with a variance, similarity and correspondence analysis. The AMF richness consisted of eleven species grouped in six families. M. biuncifera in the preserved site had the highest richness of AMF to genus (6) and species (6), whereas in the disturbed site was C. imbricata with four genus and six species. Wildfire reduced the AMF species richness 50, 25 and 50% in M. biuncifera , Z. augusta and OA, respectively; while in C. imbricata increased 34%. Gigasporaceae family was only associated with M. biuncifera and Z. augusta in the preserved condition. Correspondence analysis suggests that the identity of the plant specie affects species composition of AMF.

Keywords : soil biology; Cylindropuntia imbricata; semi-arid ecosystems; resource islands; Mimosa biuncifera; mycorrhizal symbiosis; Zaluziana augusta.

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