Taxonomy and Ecology Of Inland Sand Dune ... - Mycorrhizae

57my understanding of the ecology ofthese fungi.D. EFFECTS OF VEGETATEDCOVER ON VAM COLONIZATIONMy results analyses show an adaptationmechanism of VAM fungal distributionas reflected by the various colonizationpercentages (TABLES 4 through 7). Thewide range of differences in VAMcolonization percentages from vegetated(22.54 ± 2.32), nonvegetated (2.06 ±1.28), andnon-vegetated and disturbed (18.14 ±5.68) sand dunes is the result of variationin sand dune particles stability, organicmaterial accumulation, above groundvegetations, soil water content, soil pH,and stand location. The great range inVAM percentage infection reflects theecological conclusion by St. John andColeman (1983) that wild plants native tonutrient-poor environments possess awider dependence on mycorrhizalassociation.Analyses of VAM colonizationpercentages from vegetated, nonvegetated,and non-vegetated anddisturbance sand dunes showed thesignificant relationship between VAMfungal abundance, sand dunesstabilization, and above groundvegetation. Initial soil water content andinitial soil pH values showed a significanteffect on VAM colonization even thoughthey were taken from the above 20 cmdepth along the vegetated, vegetatednonvegetated,and disturbed vegetatednonvegetatedtransects. This resultsupports my observation of thecorrelation of mycorrhizal colonizationwith soil depth, initial soil water content,and initial soil pH. Generally, the highpercentages of soil water content and soilpH were recorded from the vegetatedsites of the vegetated, vegetatednonvegetated,and disturbed vegetatednonvegetatedtransects. Vegetated coveralong the vegetated, vegetatednonvegetated,and disturbed vegetatednonvegetatedtransects on sand dunes