Shifts in the phylogenetic structure of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in response to experimental nitrogen and carbon dioxide additions

Abstract

Global N inputs and atmospheric CO2 concentrations have increased as a result of human activities, and are predicted to increase along with population growth, with potentially negative effects on biodiversity. Using taxonomic and phylogenetic measures, we examined the response of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) to experimental manipulations of N and CO2 at the Jasper Ridge Global Change Experiment. No significant interactions between N and CO2 were observed, but individual effects of N and CO2 were found. Elevated CO2 resulted in changes in phylogenetic similarity, and a shift to phylogenetic clustering of AMF communities. N addition resulted in higher phylogenetic diversity and evenness, with no shifts in community composition and no significant signal for phylogenetic clustering. N addition resulted in an increase in both available N and the N:P ratio in N-amended plots, which suggests that changing patterns of nutrient limitation could have lead to altered species interactions. These findings suggest that elevated levels of N and CO2 altered patterns of AMF community assembly, with potential effects on ecosystem function.

Influence of 37 Years of Nitrogen and Phosphorus Fertilization on Composition of Rhizosphere Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi Communities in Black Soil of Northeast China

“…In our study, N fertilizer did not significantly changed AMF diversity in the wheat rhizosphere, consistent with previous reports (Mueller and Bohannan, 2015;Dueñas et al, 2020). This may reflect the influence of interaction between fertilization and plant on rhizosphere AMF, as the relocation of C to AMF increased with N fertilization.…”

Responses of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi to nitrogen addition: A meta‐analysis

“…However, there is no consensus on how AM fungal communities respond to N deposition. Many studies found that N addition decreased the abundance, richness and diversity of AM fungi (Antoninka et al, 2011;Egerton-Warburton & Allen, 2000;Williams et al, 2017), whereas many others also found positive effects (Jefwa et al, 2006;Porras-Alfaro et al, 2007;Zheng et al, 2014) or no effects (Eom et al, 1999;Mueller & Bohannan, 2015;van Diepen et al, 2011). These discrepancies in the effects of N addition on AM fungal communities might be due to the differences in soil resource availability (N and P), host plants (composition and diversity) and experimental variables (the form, amount and duration of N addition).…”

Chronic fertilization of 37 years alters the phylogenetic structure of soil arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in Chinese Mollisols

“…Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are ubiquitous in terrestrial ecosystems. They are obligate plant root symbionts found in more than 80% of plant families (Mueller and Bohannan 2015 ) and they provide multiple benefits for both plant and AMF. For instance, AMF can provide plants with critical nutrients (Hodge et al 2010 ) and non-nutrient benefits (Walder and van der Heijden 2015 ), help plants withstand drought (Li et al 2013 ), develop soil aggregates (Rillig and Mummey 2006 ), stimulate photosynthesis (Kaschuk et al 2009 ) and increase plant productivity (Maček et al 2011 ), thereby influencing ecosystem processes and agricultural sustainability (Rillig 2004 ).…”

“…The plant, in turn, provides photosynthetic carbon (C) as an energy source for AMF, which can alter the fungal community (Kim et al 2015 ). In addition to beneficial effects on plants, AMF also enhance ecosystem sustainability by influencing numerous soil properties and structure (Wilson et al 2009 ), including soil stability (Mueller and Bohannan 2015 ), C storage (Treseder and Allen 2000 ), soil moisture (Johnson et al 2003 ), and nitrogen (N), C and phosphorus (P) cycles (Van Der Heijden et al 2008 ). Lower AMF biodiversity can also lead to unsustainable crop production and ecosystem instability (Maček et al 2011 ).…”