The Importance of Ectomycorrhizal Networks for Nutrient Retention and Carbon Sequestration in Forest Ecosystems

Wallander, Håkan; Ekblad, Alf

doi:10.1007/978-94-017-7395-9_3

Cited by 9 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 111 publications

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“…In fact, if P is present at a low concentration, some rootassociated fungi can "biosense" P hotspots and proliferate into those locations (Leake et al, 2004). This has not been shown for other elements (Wallander and Ekblad, 2015), although upward pumping of elements such as Ca has been hypothesized (Dijkstra and Smits, 2002). We expect that water availability in the soil most likely influences all these processes that are mediated by mycorrhizal fungi (see Fig.…”

Section: Hypothesismentioning

confidence: 90%

Reviews and syntheses: on the roles trees play in building and plumbing the critical zone

et al. 2017

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Abstract. Trees, the most successful biological power plants on earth, build and plumb the critical zone (CZ) in ways that we do not yet understand. To encourage exploration of the character and implications of interactions between trees and soil in the CZ, we propose nine hypotheses that can be tested at diverse settings. The hypotheses are roughly divided into those about the architecture (building) and those about the water (plumbing) in the CZ, but the two functions are intertwined. Depending upon one's disciplinary background, many of the nine hypotheses listed below may appear obviously true or obviously false. (1) Tree roots can only physically penetrate and biogeochemically comminute the immobile substrate underlying mobile soil where that underlying substrate is fractured or pre-weathered. (2) In settings where the thickness of weathered material, H , is large, trees primarily shape the CZ through biogeochemical reactions within the rooting zone. (3) In forested uplands, the thickness of mobile soil, h, can evolve toward a steady state because of feedbacks related to root disruption and tree throw. (4) In settings where h H and the rates of uplift and erosion are low, the uptake of phosphorus into trees is buffered by the fine-grained fraction of the soil, and the ultimate source of this phosphorus is dust. (5) In settings of limited water availability, trees maintain the highest length density of functional roots at depths where water can be extracted over most of the growing season with the least amount of energy expenditure. (6) Trees grow the majority of their roots in the zone where the most growth-limiting resource is abundant, but they also grow roots at other depths to forage for other resources and to hydraulically redistribute those resources to depths where they can be taken up more efficiently. (7) Trees rely on matrix water in the unsaturated zone that at times may have anPublished by Copernicus Publications on behalf of the European Geosciences Union. 5116 S. L. Brantley et al.: Reviews and syntheses: on the roles trees play in building and plumbing the critical zone isotopic composition distinct from the gravity-drained water that transits from the hillslope to groundwater and streamflow. (8) Mycorrhizal fungi can use matrix water directly, but trees can only use this water by accessing it indirectly through the fungi. (9) Even trees growing well above the valley floor of a catchment can directly affect stream chemistry where changes in permeability near the rooting zone promote intermittent zones of water saturation and downslope flow of water to the stream. By testing these nine hypotheses, we will generate important new cross-disciplinary insights that advance CZ science.

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Section: Hypothesismentioning

confidence: 90%

Reviews and syntheses: on the roles trees play in building and plumbing the critical zone

et al. 2017

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“…It has been demonstrated that roots and their associated fungi drive soil C dynamics in the boreal forest biome, as large portions of the C fixed aboveground are transferred to roots and further become immobilized in fungal mycelia (Heinemeyer et al ., 2007; Clemmensen et al ., 2013). Therefore, changes in the dominance of soil fungi potentially have broader implications in long term soil C storage, especially in the event of frequent disturbances that accelerate soil C turnover (Treseder & Allen, 2000; Köster et al ., 2014; Wallander & Ekblad, 2015).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Changes in soil fungal community composition depend on functional group and forest disturbance type

et al. 2020

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Disturbances have altered community dynamics in boreal forests with unknown consequences for belowground ecological processes. Soil fungi are particularly sensitive to such disturbances; however, the individual response of fungal guilds to different disturbance types is poorly understood. Here, we profiled soil fungal communities in lodgepole pine forests following a bark beetle outbreak, wildfire, clear-cut logging, and salvage-logging. Using Illumina MiSeq to sequence ITS1 and SSU rDNA, we characterized communities of ectomycorrhizal, arbuscular mycorrhizal, saprotrophic, and pathogenic fungi in sites representing each disturbance type paired with intact forests. We also quantified soil fungal biomass by measuring ergosterol. Abiotic disturbances changed the community composition of ectomycorrhizal fungi and shifted the dominance from ectomycorrhizal to saprotrophic fungi compared to intact forests. The disruption of the soil organic layer with disturbances correlated with the decline of ectomycorrhizal and the increase of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. Wildfire changed the community composition of pathogenic fungi but did not affect their proportion and diversity. Fungal biomass declined with disturbances that disrupted the forest floor. Our results suggest that the disruption of the forest floor with disturbances, and the changes in C and nutrient dynamics it may promote, structure the fungal community with implications for fungal biomass-C.

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“…This has previously been observed in the soil after defoliation (Saravesi and others 2015) and in the present study, on root tips. Growth of EMF mycelium is known to be most directly influenced by the amount of carbon that is made available by autotrophic hosts (Ekblad and others 2013;Wallander and Ekblad 2015). Experimental reduction of this autotrophic C supply leads to loss of EMF biomass in the soil (Hö gberg and others 2001).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Slowed Biogeochemical Cycling in Sub-arctic Birch Forest Linked to Reduced Mycorrhizal Growth and Community Change after a Defoliation Event

et al. 2016

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The Importance of Ectomycorrhizal Networks for Nutrient Retention and Carbon Sequestration in Forest Ecosystems

Cited by 9 publications

References 111 publications

Reviews and syntheses: on the roles trees play in building and plumbing the critical zone

Reviews and syntheses: on the roles trees play in building and plumbing the critical zone

Changes in soil fungal community composition depend on functional group and forest disturbance type

Slowed Biogeochemical Cycling in Sub-arctic Birch Forest Linked to Reduced Mycorrhizal Growth and Community Change after a Defoliation Event

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