Soil is as essential to life as air and water. After fire consumes organic matter in a forest, the soil surface may be blackened and exposed, conditions that can promote the germination of dormant seeds and create a flush of nutrients that acts as a fertilizer. Burned snags continue to fall and add coarse wood to the area. As this coarse woody material decomposes, it provides important habitat for life beneath the forest floor. Long strands of underground fungi intertwine with tree roots, transferring water and minerals from the soil to the tree. In turn, the tree shares its sugary sap with the fungi. Bacteria, protozoa, fungi, mites, insects, worms, and snails recycle dead plant and animal matter and return soluble nutrients to the soil, water, and air.