Repositorio
Institucional

Fuentes-Ramirez, Andres

Barrientos, Marcia#Almonacid, Leonardo#Arriagada-Escamilla, Cesar#Salas-Eljatib, Christian

Short-term response of soil microorganisms, nutrients and plant recovery in fire-affected Araucaria araucana forests

ELSEVIER

APPLIED SOIL ECOLOGY

en

Soil contains a wide variety of microorganisms that are responsible for fundamental ecological processes. However, increased frequency and severity of fires reduce microbial diversity and alter soil nutrient availability, affecting vegetation recovery. By using a large-scale wildfire that burned endangered Araucaria araucana forests in south-central Chile (38 degrees S), we assessed the short-term post-fire response of microorganisms, soil nutrients, and plant recovery. One year after fire, we sampled soils from burned and unburned areas, and measured the number of bacterial and fungal colony forming units, and the microbiological activity of the soil. We also measured soil nutrients (N, P, and K), organic matter content and species richness, abundance and plant diversity after fire. We found a significant increase in microbiological activity in burned soils (BS) compared to unburned soils (UBS), with bacteria and fungi being four and seven times greater in BS than in UBS, respectively. Concentrations of N, P and K were also greater in BS than in UBS. Plant species richness was two times higher in unburned than in burned areas, with a drastic reduction of the dominant tree species Araucaria araucana and Nothofagus pumilio after fire. The changes in soil properties after fire may be related to organic matter mineralization, the contribution of nutrients from ashes, or due to post-fire conditions (e.g., increased soil temperature after canopy removal by fire). Overall, our study shows a positive, short-term response in soil microorganisms abundance and nutrient content, but a rapid initial reduction of plant diversity of the main dominant tree species in these forest ecosystems after a severe fire. Further research is necessary as vegetation results are only preliminary and they can vary in the short-to-medium term. Our study provides insightful clues to delve into more applied research aimed at the post-fire restoration of the endemic, long-lived Araucaria araucana forests.

Artículo original

This research was funded by Fondo Nacional de Desarrollo Cientifico y Tenologico, FONDECYT 11150487. We thank P. Arroyo, A. Del Fierro, F. Perez, N. Munoz and park rangers at the National Reserve China Muerta for their help with fieldwork. AFR is grateful for the support received from CONICYT-PAI 79170054 and VRIP at Universidad de La Frontera. LA thanks to FONDECYT Postdoctoral Grant 3150441. We also thank the anonymous reviewers for their valuable comments and suggestions that helped to improve this manuscript.

Esta investigación fue financiada por el Fondo Nacional de Desarrollo Científico y Tecnológico, FONDECYT 11150487. Agradecemos a P. Arroyo, A. Del Fierro, F. Pérez, N. Muñoz y a los guardaparques de la Reserva Nacional China Muerta por su ayuda con el trabajo de campo. AFR agradece el apoyo recibido de CONICYT-PAI 79170054 y VRIP de la Universidad de La Frontera. LA agradece la Beca Postdoctoral FONDECYT 3150441. También agradecemos a los revisores anónimos por sus valiosos comentarios y sugerencias que contribuyeron a la mejora de este manuscrito.

10.1016/j.apsoil.2018.08.010

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Microbial activity# Soil ecology# High-severity fire# Plant recovery# Disturbances

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.apsoil.2018.08.010

Soil Science

Actividad microbiana# Ecología del suelo# Incendio de alta gravedad# Recuperación de plantas# Perturbaciones

Silvicultura

Ecología

Ciencias del suelo

WOS:000444567700011

Short-term response of soil microorganisms, nutrients and plant recovery in fire-affected <i>Araucaria araucana </i>forests

Artículo original

version publicada

ELSEVIER

APPLIED SOIL ECOLOGY

Ciencia del suelo

0929-1393

en

ANID FONDECYT 11150487#ANID CONICYT-PAI 79170054#ANID FONDECYT 3150441

ANID FONDECYT 11150487

UFRO VRIP

ANID FONDECYT 3150441

ANID CONICYT-PAI 79170054

This research was funded by Fondo Nacional de Desarrollo Cientifico y Tenologico, FONDECYT 11150487. We thank P. Arroyo, A. Del Fierro, F. Perez, N. Munoz and park rangers at the National Reserve China Muerta for their help with fieldwork. AFR is grateful for the support received from CONICYT-PAI 79170054 and VRIP at Universidad de La Frontera. LA thanks to FONDECYT Postdoctoral Grant 3150441. We also thank the anonymous reviewers for their valuable comments and suggestions that helped to improve this manuscript.

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hibrida#verde

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