Fungi and bacteria are binging on burned soil
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Fungi and bacteria are binging on burned soil
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Re: Fungi and bacteria are binging on burned soil
#2Related: biochar as a soil amendment
Re: Fungi and bacteria are binging on burned soil
#3I guess that makes sense. Compared to seeds, fungi spores are ephemeral and they make better use of available biomass. Ash also tends to retain its dampness pretty well.
Re: Fungi and bacteria are binging on burned soil
#4It is well-known that morel mushrooms do very well in a freshly-burned forest.
"...black morels (Morchella elata and related species) are mostly found in coniferous forests, disturbed ground and recently burned areas."
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morchella
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morchella#Association_with_wil...
Re: Fungi and bacteria are binging on burned soil
#5Related: biochar as a soil amendment https://biochar-international.org/biochar/
Biochar turns out to be more effective in bacteria dominant soils than in fungal, where the fungi provide some of the same services.
Tropical forests are bacterial, temperate fungal. I don’t think it’s an accident that terra preta (a biochar + ? complex of soil) is found in Brazil.
It’s also a reason we have to be careful about global warming. Temperate forests make great carbon sinks, tropical do not. If we tip more land into tropical we lose a powerful method of remediation.
Re: Fungi and bacteria are binging on burned soil
#6Happy to see these studies and more prescribed burns. Nature is complex and we're still learning.
Re: Fungi and bacteria are binging on burned soil
#7In response to the subtitle asking whether these species can help revive burnt areas: I doubt it. It is true that some species are specially adapted and even need burnt vegetation to thrive (eg. There’s a bird species I believe endogenous to the Yosemite area whose name I can’t recall). However, these species occupy a particular niche much like I expect fungi or bacteria do. For them to restore an ecosystem naturally implies balance. There is nothing balanced about the intensity and frequency of fires, which are in large part anthropogenic. Maybe there are some species that are adaptable but I just don’t see this as some kind of panacea.
Re: Fungi and bacteria are binging on burned soil
#8Related: biochar as a soil amendment https://biochar-international.org/biochar/
Biochar turns out to be more effective in bacteria dominant soils than in fungal, where the fungi provide some of the same services. Tropical forests are bacterial, temperate fungal. I don’t think it’s an accident that terra preta (a biochar + ? complex of soil) is found in Brazil. It’s also a reason we have to be careful about global warming. Temperate forests make great carbon sinks, tropical do not. If we tip more…
Fun fact to add about carbon sinks, peat bogs can sink 4-17 times as much CO2 per acre as a forest and acts as an incredible moisture regulator. One of my more out there dreams is to start a big man made peat bog at the edge of a desert.
Re: Fungi and bacteria are binging on burned soil
#9It is well-known that morel mushrooms do very well in a freshly-burned forest. "...black morels (Morchella elata and related species) are mostly found in coniferous forests, disturbed ground and recently burned areas." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morchella https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morchella#Association_with_wil...
"Do very well" may not be quite correct. When mycorrhizal hosts die, the organism puts all its energy into escaping the dead end - fruiting and dispersing spores. If there are periodic fires that kill trees, that's a great time to spread to a neighboring area. If giant fire that takes out vast areas, that may be less good.
Re: Fungi and bacteria are binging on burned soil
#10Related: biochar as a soil amendment https://biochar-international.org/biochar/
Biochar turns out to be more effective in bacteria dominant soils than in fungal, where the fungi provide some of the same services. Tropical forests are bacterial, temperate fungal. I don’t think it’s an accident that terra preta (a biochar + ? complex of soil) is found in Brazil. It’s also a reason we have to be careful about global warming. Temperate forests make great carbon sinks, tropical do not. If we tip more…
Where can I learn more about what you've said, if you have sources to hand, please? I'm a big fan of bio-char (lol), so hearing that it's not-so good in temperate zones is disappointing to me, but interesting. Thanks :)