Animals and fungi can affect goatgrass establishment

Author(s): Eviner, Valerie; Chapin, F. Stuart | Abstract: The establishment of barb goatgrass is greatly affected by its interactions with other species in California grassland. For example, goatgrass establishment is enhanced by a fungus, Ulocladium atrum. This fungus is visible as black lesions on the surface of the seedhead; it helps break down the tough, woody seedhead surrounding goatgrass seeds. This speeds up germination and leads to a 65% increase in goatgrass bio-mass at the end of the growing season.