Initial Ectomycorrhizal Density Response to Wildfire in the New Jersey Pine Barren Plains

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Abstract
The New Jersey Pine Barren Plains are 3 distinct, dwarfed, upland pine-oak forests characterized by very high tree population and sprouts/genet densities and canopy height typically < 3 m. Recent investigations suggest that nutrients may be more limiting for growth in the Plains than in non-dwarfed upland Pine Barrens pine-oak forests. A long-term investigation of ectomycorrhizal density responses to fire in recently-burned Plains areas was to determine fire effects on ectomycorrhizal communities and therefore on nutrient dynamics. Following a short lag period, ectomycorrhizal hyphal densities decrease following fire in the Plains in contrast to the expected increase.