Does genotypic and species diversity of mycorrhizal plants and fungi affect ecosystem function?

Abstract

Contents Summary1122I.Introduction1122II.Are there consistent patterns in diversity of mycorrhizal fungal genotypes and species across space?1125III.What is the variation in functional traits and genes of mycorrhizal fungi at different taxonomic scales?1125IV.How will environmental change impact the relationships between genotypic and species diversity of mycorrhizal fungi and ecosystem function?1126V.Conclusions: considerations for future MEF research1127Acknowledgements1127References1127 Summary Both genotypes and species of mycorrhizal fungi exhibit considerable variation in traits, and this variation can result in their diversity regulating ecosystem function. Yet, the nature of mycorrhizal fungal diversity–ecosystem function (MEF) relationships for both genotypes and species is currently poorly defined. New experiments should reflect the richness of genotypes and species in nature, but we still lack information about the extent to which fungal populations in particular are structured. Sampling designs should quantify the diversity of mycorrhizal fungal genotypes and species at three key broad spatial scales (root fragment, root system and interacting root systems) in order to inform manipulation experiments and to test how mycorrhizal fungal diversity both responds, and confers resilience to, environmental drivers.

Biodiversity of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and ecosystem function

“…Is it more likely for some aspects of ecosystem functioning than others? Under what contexts (including soil and climate parameters) are the mechanisms underlying these observations based on complementary interactions among AM fungi (whether among species or at higher/lower levels of taxonomic resolution; Hazard & Johnson, ) or a result of an increased likelihood of important taxa being present (sampling effect)? In particular, it is important to look at aspects of biodiversity that go beyond species richness, which has been the primary focus, and to look at those that relate more mechanistically to functional diversity.…”

Tree planting in organic soils does not result in net carbon sequestration on decadal timescales

“…The difference in soil respiration and SOC stocks between birch and heather control plots is likely driven by contrasting mycorrhizal types (Figure 4), from the ERM heathland shrubs, with recalcitrant litter, slow hyphal turnover and suppression of saprotrophic decomposers, to the ECM birch and pine trees, with faster hyphal turnover and more generalist saprotrophic decomposers (Clemmensen et al, 2015;Hazard & Johnson, 2018;Read & Perez-Moreno, 2003).…”

Cross‐scale integration of mycorrhizal function

“…1200–1210) or on the soil (Storer et al ., ; in this issue of New Phytologist , pp. 1285–1295), are often discussed in terms of ‘functionality’ (in this issue of New Phytogist , Hazard & Johnson, , pp. 1122–1128; Lekberg & Helgason, , pp.…”