Cromack, Kermit Jr.; Fichter, B. L.; Moldenke, A. M.; Entry, J. A.; Ingham, E. R. 1988. Interactions between soil animals and ectomycorrhizal fungal mats. Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment. 24: 161-168.
Estimates of microbial biomass were made for ectomycorrhizal fungal mats colonizing mineralsoil in a 50-75-year-old Douglas-fir stand in western Oregon. The ectomycorrhizal fungal matsare from the basidiomycete. Hysterangium setchellii. Numbers and biomass of soil animals in-cluding microarthropods and nematodes were estimated for both fungal mat and non-mat areas.The mats generally showed a significantly greater microbial biomass and also greater numbers ofsoil microarthropods. Protozoans were also sampled and exhibited greater abundance in fungalmacs for amoebae and ciliates, but not flagellates. We hypothesize that these mats represent alamer and more active microbial biomass. available as a soil-animal food resource. Fungal matshad greater concentrations of soil C and soil N, and soil respiration and enzyme activity rates weresignificantly greater in mat than non-mat soil.