Report Number: 26142
Permit Number: CRLA-2003-SCI-0002
Current Status: Checked in
Date Received: Jan 19, 2004
Reporting Year:
2003
Principal Investigator:
Dr Kermit Cromack, Jr., Oregon State
University, Corvallis, OR
Additional investigator(s):
Dr. Efren Cazares,
Dr. James Trappe, Matt Trappe
Park-assigned Study Id. #:
CRLA-03026
Permit Expiration
Date:
Oct 31, 2006
Permit Start Date:
Jul 07, 2003
Study Starting
Date:
Jun 07, 2003
Study Ending Date:
Oct 31, 2006
Study
Status:
Continuing
Activity Type:
Research
Subject/Discipline:
Fire (Behavior, Ecology, Effects)
Objectives:
This research is proposed to examine effects
of prescribed fire on the fruiting of
ectomycorrhizal fungal at Crater Lake
National Park. Fruiting bodies do not
perfectly reflect the entire belowground
diversity of ectomycorrhizal fungi but serve
as a useful and cost-effective indicator of
ectomycorrhizal community response to fire.
Moreover, they are important in diets of
wildlife and hence a major response variable
to evaluate effects of fire on wildlife
habitat. The goal is to evaluate the effect
of spring and fall burns on the fruiting of
ectomycorrhizal fungi and relate these
effects to vegetative and soil
characteristics.
The overall objective of this study is to
quantify effects of early and late spring
versus fall burning on the ectomycorrhizal
fungus community composition as reflected by
fruiting-body production. The study is
designed to answer these specific questions:
-
How does season of burn relate to amount
and species composition of mycorrhizal
fungus sporocarp production?
-
How does intensity of burn relate to
amount and species composition of sporocarp
production?
-
How does burn-induced change in ground
vegetation relate to amount and species
composition of to sporocarp production?
-
How does burn-induced canopy cover change
relate to amount and species composition of sporocarp production?
-
How does burn-induced change in selected
soil properties relate to amound and species
composition of sporocarp production?
-
How do factors 1-5 relate to spring vs.
autumn fruiting species?
-
How do factors 1-5 relate to time since
burning?
-
How do factors 1-5 interact?
A secondary objective will be to assess the
treatment variables on presence of visible,
dense colonies of ectomycorrhizal fungi
(termed fungal mats) in the soil. Mats are
often concentrated in the upper soil
horizons and hence may be particularly
sensitive to fire. Questions 1-8 for
sporocarp production will also be addressed
for mats.
Findings and Status:
Sixteen plots (four each of the four
treatments; early spring burn, late spring
burn, fall burn, and unburned control) were
surveyed for above- and belowground
mycorrhizal fungi in the spring and again in
the fall or 2003. All collections were
described, dried, and vouchered.
Identification of every collection to
species level is being performed by
microscopic and genetic analysis.
For
this study, were one or more specimens collected and
removed from the park but not destroyed during
analyses?
Yes
Funding provided
this reporting year by NPS:
0
Funding provided
this reporting year by other sources:
53000
Full name of
college or university:
Oregon State University
Annual funding
provided by NPS to university or college this
reporting year: 0
