Observations of fungal succession in the Mount St. Helens devastation zone, 1980–1983

Abstract

"Phoenicoid" fungi were observed fruiting on tephra deposits soon after the eruption of Mount St. Helens in May 1980. The first fungus observed was Anthracobia melaloma, which was common on tephra in both anamorph and teleomorph states. The rapid colonization of phoenicoid fungi on volcanic substrates is attributed to the changes in pH, chemical composition, and competitive interactions of microbes in the tephra. Generally, Ascomycetes were most abundant on the tephra in the first year after the eruption, followed by an increase of basidiomycete species. Sporocarps of phoenicoid fungi were an important substrate for colonization by photosynthetic nonvascular plants.