Influence of southern pine beetle on fungal communities of wood and bark decomposition of coarse woody debris in the New Jersey pine barrens.

ABSTRACT: Dead coarse woody debris (fungal food resources) on the forest floor is an ignition source for forest fires. The rate of decomposition of the debris is largely influenced by fungi, determining its residence time on the forest floor. We asked if southern pine bark beetle (Dendroctonus frontalis) attack of pitch pine (Pinus rigida) alters the decomposition and fungal community of dead woody resources. Wood and bark from beetle infested and non-beetle infested resources were decomposed in litter bags on the forest floor. Decomposition was measured as mass loss and the fungal community by next-generation (PCR and Illumina metabarcoding) sequencing. Bark decomposed slower than wood and resources colonized by beetles decomposed faster than resources with no beetles. The initial dif

SUBMITTER: Dighton J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11524313 | biostudies-literature | 2021

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature