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ABSTRACT
The abundance and diversity of vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal (VAM) fungi in pioneer dune populations of Uniola paniculata were determined. Samples were obtained in November, 1983, and May, August, and November, 1984, from two locations in northeastern Florida. Roots of sea oats were well colonized by a diverse populaton of VAM fungi. Three species of Glomus and two species each of Acaulospora and Gigaspora were collected. Total spore densities ranged from 0 to 677 per 100 g of sand. The frequency distributions of spore counts were best described by the negative binomial model, suggesting spores were aggregated in the dunes. There was no trend in spore populations through the 1984 season; highest spore numbers were found in May for one species, August for three species, and November for two species. Spore densities in non-vegetated areas adjacent to vegetated dunes averaged less than 6% of the spore densities found in the root zone of sea oats. The length of all fungal hyphae in the dunes was estimated at 12 m g-1 sand or 592 m cm-1 of colonized root length. Seventy-eight percent of the hyphae observed were non-septate.
