While it is well established that plants associating with arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) and ectomycorrhizal (ECM) fungi cycle carbon (C) nutrients in distinct ways, we have a limited understanding of whether varying abundance ECM AM stand can provide integrative proxies for key biogeochemical processes. We explored linkages between the relative trees microbial functioning three hardwood forests southern Indiana, USA. Across each site's 'mycorrhizal gradient', measured fungal biomass, :...

Fungi play crucial roles in the biogeochemistry of terrestrial ecosystems, most notably as saprophytes decomposing organic matter and mycorrhizal fungi enhancing plant nutrient uptake. However, a recurrent problem fungal ecology is to establish trophic status species field. Our interpretations conclusions are too often based on extrapolations from laboratory microcosm experiments or anecdotal field evidence. Here, we used natural variations stable carbon isotope ratios (δ 13 C) an approach...

Summary Although much is known about how trees and their associated microbes influence nitrogen cycling in temperate forest soils, less biotic controls over phosphorus (P) cycling. Given that mycorrhizal fungi are instrumental for P acquisition the two dominant associations – arbuscular ( AM ) ectomycorrhizal ECM possess different strategies acquiring P, we hypothesized would differ stands dominated by with vs fungi. We quantified soil solution microbial biomass sequentially extracted...

Summary Improving nitrogen (N) use efficiency (NUE) to reduce the application of N fertilisers in a way that benefits environment and reduces farmers' costs is an ongoing objective for sustainable wheat production. However, whether how arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) affect NUE still not well explored. Three independent but complementary experiments were conducted decipher contribution roots AMF uptake utilisation wheat. We show temporal complementarity pattern between shaping...

Abstract Resupinate thelephoroid fungi (hereafter called tomentelloid fungi) have a world‐wide distribution and comprise ≈70 basidiomycete species with inconspicuous, resupinate sporocarps. It is only recently that their ability to form ectomycorrhizas (EM) has been realized, so distribution, abundance significance as mycobionts in forest ecosystems still largely unexplored. In order provide baseline data for future ecological studies of fungi, we explored presence nine Swedish boreal...

• The natural abundance of 13C (δ13C) and 15N (δ15N) saprotrophic ectomycorrhizal (ECM) fungi has been investigated on a number occasions, but the significance observed differences within between two trophic groups remains unclear. Here, we examine influence taxonomy, site, host time upon isotopic data from 135 fungal species collected at forest sites in Sweden. Mean δ13C δ15N values differed significantly ECM fungi, with only small degree overlap even level. Among intraspecific variation...

In boreal forest soils, ectomycorrhizal fungi are fundamentally important for carbon (C) dynamics and nutrient cycling. Although their extraradical mycelium (ERM) is pivotal processes such as soil organic matter build-up nitrogen cycling, very little known about its regulation. this study, we quantified ERM production turnover, examined how these two together regulated standing biomass in seven sites forming a chronosequence of 12- to 100-yr-old managed Pinus sylvestris forests. This was...

Abstract Fungi play critical roles in ecosystem processes such as decomposition and nutrient cycling, but have also been highlighted significant contributors to organic matter build‐up boreal forest soils. Ectomycorrhizal (ECM) mycelial biomass necromass dynamics recently essential for regulating of soil matter. Understanding the extent which shifts community or growth trait composition cause changes production turnover over ecological gradients would aid a mechanistic understanding these...

Abstract Soil microbial diversity and community composition are shaped by various factors linked to land management, topographic position, vegetation. To study the effects of these drivers, we characterized fungal bacterial communities from bulk soil at four depths ranging surface below rooting zone two Swedish grasslands with differing land-use histories, each including both an upper a lower catenary position. We hypothesized that differences in plant species richness functional group...

Studies of effects fertilizer treatment on ectomycorrhizal fungal community structure have predominantly been based large, single additions nitrogen. involving chronic nutrients in combination with irrigation are much less common. We used morphotyping to study balanced a nutrient solution 36-year-old stand Picea abies (L.) Karst. Despite high variability among individual samples, principal components analysis revealed clear shift response fertilization. Irrigated plots receiving only water...

Root and mycelial exudation contributes significantly to soil carbon (C) fluxes, is likely be altered by an elevated atmospheric dioxide (CO2) concentration nitrogen (N) deposition. We quantified soluble, low-molecular-weight (LMW) organic compounds exuded ectomycorrhizal plants grown under ambient (360 p.p.m.) or (710 CO2 concentrations with different N sources. Scots pine seedlings, colonized one of five nonmycorrhizal fungi, received 70 μM N, either as NH4Cl alanine, in a liquid growth...

Abstract Aims Decomposition of leaf litter is influenced by quality as determined plant genotype and environment, well climate soil properties. We studied these drivers decomposition in communities Salix varieties, hypothesizing that rates would increase under warmer climate, more diverse communities, with increasing the individual varieties. Methods Litter from four varieties was incubated three field trials across a latitudinal gradient Central to Northern Europe. stand properties were...

Abstract. The role of ectomycorrhizal (ECM) fungi in biological mineral weathering is increasingly recognised, although the quantitative significance microbially mediated dissolution for plant growth debated. Species within ECM genus Suillus are found to preferentially inhabit soils and frequently reported possess capabilities. Though studies growing with minerals have shown heightened mycelial nutrient content compared without minerals, mechanistic understanding mobilisation uptake...

Summary Trait spectra have been used in various branches of ecology to explain and predict patterns species distributions. Several categorical continuous traits proposed as relevant for ectomycorrhizal fungi, but a spectrum that unifies co‐varying remains be established tested. Here, we propose nitrogen acquisition carbon use trait fungi nitrogen‐limited forests, which encompasses several morphological, physiological, metabolic traits. Using simple stoichiometric model, the is linked concept...

• Changes in below-ground ectomycorrhizal (ECM) community structure response to elevated CO2 and balanced nutrient addition were investigated a 37-yr-old Picea abies forest. Trees whole-tree chambers exposed factorial combinations of ambient/elevated (700 ppm) fertilization (+/–). ECM fungal was determined 1997 2000 using combination morphotyping molecular analyses. Samples taken both from reference trees receiving the same treatments but without chambers. Significant effects on found CO2....

The roots of Salix spp. can be colonised by two types mycorrhizal fungi (ectomycorrhizal and arbuscular) furthermore dark-septate endophytes. dual arbuscular mycorrhizal) colonized fungal root colonization is affected the plant genotype, soil properties their interactions. However, impact host diversity accomplished mixing different genotypes within site on root-associated P-mobilization in field not known. It hypothesized that with strong eco-physiological differences changes abundance...

Abstract Boreal forests often have a dense understorey of ericaceous dwarf shrubs with ecological adaptations that contrast those the canopy‐forming trees. It is therefore important to quantify contributions by ecosystem processes and disentangle shrub‐ tree‐driven responses climatic factors. We quantified soil respiration driven pine canopy shrub over 3 years, using factorial root exclusion removal experiment in mature Pinus sylvestris forest. Soil temperature moisture‐related attributed...