Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in soils of arboreal Caatinga submitted to forest management

Abstract

The arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) community presents a variable tolerance to changes in the medium, to which it responds modifying the number of propagules. For this reason, the study of the effect of different management practices on this community can help to understand the magnitude of the changes caused to the ecosystem. The objective of this study was to evaluate changes in the community of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in the soil in an area of arboreal Caatinga submitted to forest management. The study was conducted in Contendas do Sincorá (BA). Three types of forest management (clear-cutting, selective logging based on diameter, and selective logging based on species) and one control area were evaluated. Soil samples were collected at 0-10 cm depth in two periods (five and 10 months after management). AMF spores were present in low density (< 1 spore g-1 soil), dry and non-viable, and were generally more abundant in managed areas. Fewer species were observed in the control area. The AMF community showed to be related to the attributes of the soil and sensitive to management practices, demonstrating greater impact under clear cut management.