Frequent fires are an integral component of the imperiled longleaf pine savannas that historically ranged throughout the gulf coast states. Our lab is investigating how prescribed fires alter soil bacterial, fungal, and faunal communities. At the Jones Center at Ichauway, studies by prior Chung lab student Dr. Michelle Henson found that soil fungi are more sensitive to soil bacteria to changes in prescribed fire regime, and that the dominant understory plant wiregrass is sensitive to soil pathogens. Ongoing work by current PhD student Bell Scherick seeks to understand soil microbial dispersal post fire. Additionally, we are interested in the microbial assemblages that colonize pyrogenic carbon substrates after fire and their role in soil C formation and C cycling.

Collaborators: Dr. David Mason, Dr. Rebecca Abney, Dr. Richard Hall.