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Wildfire effects on microbial biomass and diversity in pine forests at three topographic positions

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Ecological Research

Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine microbial biomass carbon and diversity at three topographic positions (ridge, middle slope and valley bottom) at varying periods after the occurrence of wildfire. The purpose of this study was to enhance knowledge on the microbiological status of post-fire sites for a better estimate of the success of their restoration. Results showed that the biomass carbon and microbial diversity were affected by fire: the averages of the burnt plots were <50% of those of the unburnt plots. In addition, the biomass carbon at the sites studied 3 years after and 25 years after fire, and 5 months after and 9 years after fire, were not significantly different from each other. On the other hand, the site studied 5 months after fire showed the highest microbial diversity, followed by the ones studied 3, 25, 9 and 6 years after fire. In terms of topographic position, the ridge was shown to be the most affected by fire. These results show that fire can adversely affect the microbial biomass carbon and microbial diversity of the soil, the recovery of which may take a long time.

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Acknowledgements

We are grateful to the Hiroshima City Hall and the Fire Department for providing us with the information about the forest fires and allowing us to use the Hiroshima prefectural mesh forestry map. We are also indebted to the members of the Horikoshi Laboratory, and the Nakagoshi and Isagi Laboratory for their assistance during the experiments. We thank Martin Stephen Ward for doing the English proof-reading of this manuscript. The first author thanks Mindanao State University, her Alma Mater, for its support. This study was partially supported by the Hiroshima University COE Program for Social Capacity Development for Environmental Management and International Cooperation.

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  1. Graduate School for International Development and Cooperation, Hiroshima University, 1-5-1 Kagamiyama, Higashi-Hiroshima, 739-8529, Japan

    J. A. Mabuhay, Y. Isagi & N. Nakagoshi

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  1. J. A. Mabuhay
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  2. Y. Isagi
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  3. N. Nakagoshi
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Correspondence to J. A. Mabuhay.

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Mabuhay, J.A., Isagi, Y. & Nakagoshi, N. Wildfire effects on microbial biomass and diversity in pine forests at three topographic positions. Ecol Res 21, 54–63 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11284-005-0094-1

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