This paper investigates the diversity and ecology of the epigeous ectomycorrhizal (EcM)
fungal assemblages of four plots in native Eucalyptus obliqua forest in Tasmania at different
ages of regeneration since the natural disturbance of wildfire. From fortnightly visits to
1 ha of forest over a period of 14 months, 331 EcM species were documented. The family
Cortinariaceae (particularly the genus Cortinarius) dominated the EcM communities, with
the youngest plot (72 yr since the last wildfire) having the greatest number of EcM species.
Each plot was divided up into 25 10 10 m subplots, and both unconstrained and constrained
ordination procedures showed a significant association between the woody
perennial plant community of the subplots and their EcM assemblages, reflecting the covariation
of plant and fungal communities. The study provides benchmark knowledge of
EcM communities in a specific forest type in Tasmania, serving as a good basis for further
studies in those forests and in similar forest types elsewhere.