Shift in fungal communities and associated enzyme activities along an age gradient of managed Pinus sylvestris stands

Abstract

Forestry reshapes ecosystems with respect to tree age structure, soil properties and vegetation composition. These changes are likely to be paralleled by shifts in microbial community composition with potential feedbacks on ecosystem functioning. Here, we assessed fungal communities across a chronosequence of managed Pinus sylvestris stands and investigated correlations between taxonomic composition and extracellular enzyme activities. Not surprisingly, clear-cutting had a negative effect on ectomycorrhizal fungal abundance and diversity. In contrast, clear-cutting favoured proliferation of saprotrophic fungi correlated with enzymes involved in holocellulose decomposition. During stand development, the re-establishing ectomycorrhizal fungal community shifted in composition from dominance by Atheliaceae in younger stands to Cortinarius and Russula species in older stands. Late successional ectomycorrhizal taxa correlated with enzymes involved in mobilisation of nutrients from organic matter, indicating intensified nutrient limitation. Our results suggest that maintenance of functional diversity in the ectomycorrhizal fungal community may sustain long-term forest production by retaining a capacity for symbiosis-driven recycling of organic nutrient pools.

Published in

ISME Journal
2017, Volume: 11, number: 4, pages: 863-874

SLU Authors

• Kyaschenko, Julia

  • Department of Soil and Environment, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

• Clemmensen, Karina

  • Department of Forest Mycology and Plant Pathology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

• Hagenbo, Andreas

  • Department of Forest Mycology and Plant Pathology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

• Karltun, Erik

  • Department of Soil and Environment, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

• Lindahl, Björn

  • Department of Soil and Environment, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

Associated SLU-program

SLU Plant Protection Network


Sustainable Development Goals

SDG15 Life on land


UKÄ Subject classification

Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Microbiology
Ecology


Publication identifier

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/ismej.2016.184

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/80782