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Research article2025Peer reviewedOpen access

A trait spectrum linking nitrogen acquisition and carbon use of ectomycorrhizal fungi

Jorgensen, Karolina; Clemmensen, Karina E.; Fransson, Petra; Manzoni, Stefano; Wallander, Hakan; Lindahl, Bjorn D.

Abstract

Trait spectra have been used in various branches of ecology to explain and predict patterns of species distributions. Several categorical and continuous traits have been proposed as relevant for ectomycorrhizal fungi, but a spectrum that unifies co-varying traits remains to be established and tested. Here, we propose a nitrogen acquisition and carbon use trait spectrum for ectomycorrhizal fungi in nitrogen-limited forests, which encompasses several morphological, physiological, and metabolic traits. Using a simple stoichiometric model, the trait spectrum is linked to the concept of apparent carbon use efficiency and resolves the contradiction that species with high supply of host carbon can maintain nitrogen transfer despite building large mycelial biomass. We suggest that ectomycorrhizal fungal species are distributed along this spectrum, with lifestyles ranging from 'absorbers' with a niche in high productive forests with high availability of soluble nitrogen to 'miners' with the ability to exploit organic matter in forests with low nitrogen availability. Further, we propose ways to test the outlined trait spectrum empirically.

Keywords

carbon use efficiency; ectomycorrhizal exploration types; extraradical mycelium; functional traits; fungal ecology

Published in

New Phytologist
2025
Publisher: WILEY

SLU Authors

UKÄ Subject classification

Microbiology

Publication identifier

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/nph.70129

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/141571