Thesis
From Flame to Forest: Unraveling Soil Microbial Mediation of Seedling Growth amidst Increasing Frequency of Wildfire and Drought
Washington State University
Master of Science (MS), Washington State University
2023
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.7273/000006304
Abstract
Pacific Northwest forests are faced with unparalleled challenges from anthropogenic climate change. Rising temperatures contribute to an increase in the frequency of wildfire and prolonged drought that can result in shifts from forest to shrub-dominated stable states. While research has studied the role of plant-microbe interactions in successional dynamics, few studies have explored the influence of wildfire frequency and drought on microbial mediation of conifer and shrub seedling growth and drought tolerance. Using greenhouse experiments, the present study identified natural spatial variation within the microbiome as a key determinant of seedling growth, not the frequency of wildfire, suggesting that the frequency of wildfire alone may not be the main driver leading to shrub-dominated stable states. However, when drought conditions are introduced, only shrubs exposed to the microbiome from frequently burned soils showed a reduced sensitivity to drought which may underscore the persistence of shrubs after multiple wildfire events. In general, conifers exhibited a reduced sensitivity to drought. Additionally, conifers smaller in stature displayed positive responses to their growth under drought-like conditions. These finding indicates that bigger is not always better, and certain microbial communities may prioritize drought tolerance over plant growth. This research presents valuable insights for forest management strategies, emphasizing the importance of exploring the functional roles of soil microbiota to better inform reforestation efforts.
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Details
- Title
- From Flame to Forest
- Creators
- Brittany LeTendre
- Contributors
- Stephanie Porter (Advisor)Tanya Cheeke (Committee Member)Kevan Moffett (Committee Member)
- Awarding Institution
- Washington State University
- Academic Unit
- School of Biological Sciences
- Theses and Dissertations
- Master of Science (MS), Washington State University
- Publisher
- Washington State University
- Number of pages
- 90
- Identifiers
- 99901086721601842
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Thesis