title: Sensitivity of glomalin-related soil protein to wildfires: Immediate and medium-term changes.
abstract: Forest fires are part of many ecosystems, especially in the Mediterranean Basin. Depending on the fire severity, they can be a great disturbance, so it is of special importance to know their impact on the ecosystem elements. In this study, we measured the sensitivity of glomalin related soil protein (GRSP), a glycoprotein produced by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), to fire perturbation. Two wildfire-affected areas in the SE Spain (Gata and Gorga) were studied. Soil organic carbon (SOC) was also measured. Effects on GRSP immediately after fire were analyzed in both areas, while in Gorga a monitoring of GRSP stocks over a year period after the fire was also carried out. Soil samplings were carried out every 4months. Plots (1×2m2) were installed beneath pines and shrubs in burned and an adjacent control area. Results of GRSP content immediately after a fire only showed significant differences for shrub plots (burned vs control) (p<0.01) in the Gorga site. However, a year of monitoring showed significant fire effect on GRSP content in both plot types (pines and shrubs). Control plots varied considerably over time, while in burned plots GRSP content remained constant during the whole studied period. This research provides evidence of the sensitivity of GRSP to a wildfire perturbation.
authors.affiliation: GEA - Grupo de Edafología Ambiental, Department of Agrochemistry and Environment, University Miguel Hernández, Avda. De la Universidad s/n 03202, Elche (Alicante), Spain. Electronic address: e.lozano@umh.es.
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lozano
authors.affiliation: GEA - Grupo de Edafología Ambiental, Department of Agrochemistry and Environment, University Miguel Hernández, Avda. De la Universidad s/n 03202, Elche (Alicante), Spain.
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Jiménez-Pinilla
authors.affiliation: GEA - Grupo de Edafología Ambiental, Department of Agrochemistry and Environment, University Miguel Hernández, Avda. De la Universidad s/n 03202, Elche (Alicante), Spain.
authors.forename: Jorge
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mataix-Solera
authors.affiliation: GEA - Grupo de Edafología Ambiental, Department of Agrochemistry and Environment, University Miguel Hernández, Avda. De la Universidad s/n 03202, Elche (Alicante), Spain.
authors.forename: Victoria
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Arcenegui
authors.affiliation: GEA - Grupo de Edafología Ambiental, Department of Agrochemistry and Environment, University Miguel Hernández, Avda. De la Universidad s/n 03202, Elche (Alicante), Spain.
authors.forename: Jorge
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mataix-Beneyto
mesh_terms: D017753:Ecosystem; D065928:Forests; D005656:Fungal Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D038821:Mycorrhizae / Q000502:physiology*; D012988:Soil Microbiology; D013030:Spain; D000075923:Wildfires
chemical_list: D005656:Fungal Proteins; D006023:Glycoproteins; C573268:glomalin
keywords: Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi; Fire severity; Glomalin related soil protein; Soil organic carbon