Research article - Peer-reviewed, 2005
Growth and biomass of mycorrhizal mycelia in coniferous forests along short natural nutrient gradients
Nilsson LO, Giesler R, Baath E, Wallander HAbstract
Total fungal biomass, the biomass of ectomycorrhizal and ericoid mycorrhizal (EM + ErM), and arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi, as well as the production of EM and AM fungi, were estimated in coniferous forest soils along four natural nutrient gradients. Plant community changes, forest productivity, soil pH and N availability increase over relatively short distances (< 100 m) along the gradients. The amounts of the phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) 18 : 2omega6,9 were used to estimate total fungi (not including AM), and the PLFA 16 : 1omega5 to estimate AM fungi in soil samples. The decrease in the PLFA 18 : 2omega6,9 during incubation of soils was used to estimate EM + ErM biomass. Production of AM and EM mycorrhiza was estimated using ingrowth mesh bags. Total fungal biomass was highest in soils with the lowest nutrient availability and tree productivity. Biomass of ErM + EM was also highest in these soils. We found tendencies that EM mycelial production was lowest in the soils with the highest nutrient availability and tree productivity. Production of AM fungi was highest in nutrient-rich soils with high pH. Our results suggest that mycorrhizal communities change from being ErM-, to EM- and finally to AM-dominated along these gradients. The observed changes in mycorrhizal type in the short nutrient gradients follow similar patterns to those suggested for altitudinal or latitudinal gradients over longer distancesPublished in
New Phytologist2005, volume: 165, number: 2, pages: 613-622
Publisher: BLACKWELL PUBLISHING LTD
Authors' information
Giesler, Reiner
Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Department of Forest Ecology
Nilsson, Lars-Ola
Bååth, Erland
Wallander, Håkan
UKÄ Subject classification
Environmental Sciences related to Agriculture and Land-use
Publication Identifiers
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-8137.2004.01233.x
URI (permanent link to this page)
https://res.slu.se/id/publ/5651