Abstract Ethiopian dry Afromontane forests are complex ecosystems that have important economic and ecological roles. However, recurrent fire has been a source of disturbance for these forests. We assessed the effect of fire on soil fungal communities in a remnant dry Afromontane forest in Wondo Genet, southern Ethiopia, by analysing soil samples collected from unburned stands and from stands one and ten years after fire using DNA metabarcoding of the ITS2 rDNA. The analysis indicated that the soil fungal community was most diverse soon after a fire disturbance and declined over time. Fungal community composition also differed among stands. Our results also indicated that differences in fungal diversity were stand dependent rather than due to the chronology of the fire history in this forest system. We found higher numbers of mycorrhizal species in burned stands, suggesting that these fungal symbionts could compensate for the effects of nutrient stress caused by fire in these areas. Fungal community composition was also significantly correlated with organic matter content, potassium and magnesium in soil. This work could be considered as a case study since the plots were established in a single stand for each treatment in the dry Afromontane forests of Ethiopia. Thus, we recommend further studies and conclusions regarding other stands need to be taken with caution.

中文翻译：

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埃塞俄比亚干燥的非洲山地森林（一个高度多样化的未开发生态系统）野火后的土壤真菌群落和演替

摘要 埃塞俄比亚干燥的非洲山地森林是复杂的生态系统，具有重要的经济和生态作用。然而，经常发生的火灾一直是这些森林的干扰源。我们通过使用 ITS2 rDNA 的 DNA 元条形码分析从未燃烧的林分和火灾发生后一年和十年的林分收集的土壤样本，评估了火灾对埃塞俄比亚南部 Wondo Genet 残余干燥 Afromontane 森林土壤真菌群落的影响。分析表明，土壤真菌群落在火灾干扰后不久最为多样化，并随着时间的推移而下降。不同林分的真菌群落组成也不同。我们的结果还表明，真菌多样性的差异取决于林分，而不是由于该森林系统中火灾历史的时间顺序。我们在被烧毁的林分中发现了更多的菌根物种，这表明这些真菌共生体可以补偿这些地区火灾造成的营养压力的影响。真菌群落组成也与土壤有机质含量、钾和镁显着相关。这项工作可以被视为一个案例研究，因为在埃塞俄比亚干燥的非洲山地森林中，每种处理都在一个林分中建立了样地。因此，我们建议对其他立场的进一步研究和结论需要谨慎对待。这项工作可以被视为一个案例研究，因为在埃塞俄比亚干燥的非洲山地森林中，每种处理都在一个林分中建立了样地。因此，我们建议对其他立场的进一步研究和结论需要谨慎对待。这项工作可以被视为一个案例研究，因为在埃塞俄比亚干燥的非洲山地森林中，每种处理都在一个林分中建立了样地。因此，我们建议对其他立场的进一步研究和结论需要谨慎对待。