A pulse of summer precipitation after the dry season triggers changes in ectomycorrhizal formation, diversity, and community composition in a Mediterranean forest in California, USA

• DOI: 10.1007/s00572-018-0859-3
• Publication Date: 2018-08-13T15:34:39Z
• Authors: Takeshi Taniguchi; Kuni Kitajima; Greg W. Douhan; Norikazu Yamanaka; Michael F. Allen
• Keywords: Biogeochemical Cycle; Nutrient cycle

Rapid responses of microbial biomass and community composition following a precipitation event have been reported for soil bacteria fungi, but measurements characterizing ectomycorrhizal fungi remain limited. The response after is crucial to understanding biogeochemical cycles plant nutrition. Here, we examined changes in formation, diversity, at the end summer drought events conifer-oak mixed forest under semiarid, Mediterranean-type climate CA, USA. To study effects different amounts precipitation, water addition treatment was also undertaken. Ectomycorrhizal fungal diversity changed within 6 days with increased simultaneous mortality re-growth. both natural rainfall (less than 10 mm) (50 treatments, larger decreases were observed from 9 16 treatment. primarily shift richness abundance Basidiomycota species, indicating higher sensitivity species compared Ascomycota species. Our results indicate that rapidly respond amount precipitation. These affect ecosystem functions, such as nutrient cycling, decomposition, uptake, semiarid regions.