Herbivory is generally assumed to negatively influence mycorrhizal fungi because of reduced photosynthate support mycorrhizae following defoliation. We examined effects 60% and 100% defoliation (excluding current year needles) on tree growth ectomycorrhizal associations 10–15 old Scots pines ( Pinus sylvestris ). Over 98% short roots were colonized by fungi, contrary expectation, did not decrease the proportion living in fine roots. Furthermore, alter ratios produced needle biomass or The...

Biological assemblages are often subjected to multiple stressors emerging from both anthropogenic activities and naturally stressful conditions, species' responses simultaneous may differ those predicted based on the individual effects of each stressor alone. We studied influence land‐use disturbance (forest drainage) fungal decomposer leaf decomposition rates in harsh (low pH caused by black‐shale dominated geology) vs. circumneutral streams. used pyrosequencing determine richness...

Reduction in the photosynthetic capacity of plants is presumed to negatively affect their fungal symbionts. To test this hypothesis under natural conditions, we artificially removed 100% previous year needles two successive years on Scots pine trees (Pinus sylvestris L.) simulate sawfly attack. Despite a decline shoot growth defoliated trees, root biomass did not differ from control trees. The ergosterol (fungal biomass) and starch concentration fine roots, however, slightly declined Percent...

Relative importance of positive and negative interactions between plant species may change along disturbance resource gradients. Positive are suggested to prevail in low resource, productivity (high stress) conditions high availability. A dwarf shrub, mountain crowberry Empetrum nigrum ssp. hermaphroditum, is known have allelopathic impacts on both Scots pine Pinus sylvestris its ectomycorrhizal symbionts. We aimed study if the outcome changes primary succession gradients dune shores...

Summary There is compelling evidence that anthropogenic disturbance can decrease biodiversity and impair ecological functioning. A major challenge to biodiversity–ecosystem function research disentangle the effects of loss on ecosystem functions from direct human disturbance. We studied influence (acidification eutrophication) a natural stressor (low pH due bedrock geology) leaf‐shredding macroinvertebrates, fungal decomposers leaf decomposition rates in boreal streams. used pyrosequencing...

The northern regions are experiencing considerable changes in winter climate leading to more frequent warm periods, rain-on-snow events and reduced snow pack diminishing the insulation properties of cover increasing soil frost freeze-thaw cycles. In this study, we investigated how lack cover, formation ice encasement compaction affect size, structure activities bacterial fungal communities. Contrary our hypotheses, manipulation treatments over one had limited influence on microbial community...

The formation of the organic layer within Scandinavian forest soil started about 10000 yr ago, following retreat continental ice sheet. Since then land has been slowly rising in northern Europe and uplift still occurs on coast Bothnian Bay at a rate 0.6-0.9 m per 100 yr. Four, 300 long, successional gradients were studied from shoreline to Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) stand with fully developed humus few centimetres' thickness. plantless was followed by small foredunes dunes, characterized...

We examined the decomposition of 3 riparian leaf species (alder, birch, and willow) in a boreal woodland stream during winter. Based on initial quality, we expected willow leaves to decompose at slower rate than alder birch leaves. also be colonized by fungi macroinvertebrates more rapidly higher numbers and/or biomass assessed how closely shredder life cycles are related litter availability this stream. Alder had fast processing rates (k = 0.019 0.011/d, respectively), whereas were...

Massive moth outbreaks cause large‐scale damage in subarctic mountain birch forests with a concomitant decrease carbon flux to mycorrhizal fungi and an increased deposition of dissolved nutrients as frass into soil. We investigated impacts herbivory along three replicated gradients levels (undamaged, once damaged, repeatedly damaged) on soil nutrient biological parameters. found increase the biomass enchytraeid worms, which are key faunal decomposers. Fungi : bacteria ratio C:N decreased...

Biomass production and decomposition are key processes in ecology, where plants primarily responsible for microbes act decomposition. Trees harbor foliar microfungi living on inside leaf tissues, epiphytes, endophytes, respectively. Early researchers hypothesized that all fungal endophytes parasites or latent saprophytes, which slowly colonize the tissues While this has been proven some strains terrestrial environment, it is not known whether from origin can survive perform aquatic...

Riparian habitats of boreal forests are considered as hotspots for biochemical processes and biodiversity, varying width riparian buffers have been proposed to protect species diversity the forests. However, evidence role soil moisture variation in shaping biodiversity ecosystem functioning remain scarce particularly regarding belowground diversity. We studied how distance from stream zone affected richness community composition plants, bacteria, fungi well microbial decomposition rates....

The structures on leaf surfaces, e.g. trichomes, can act as effective antiherbivory mechanisms chemical repellents. Structural defences usually represent constitutive resistance, but there are also a few cases of inducible morphological defences. We tested whether defoliation may induce changes in trichome production white birch ( Betula pubescens ). studied birches were either 0, 50 or 100% defoliated during the previous current summer, and we measured alterations glandular vs. nonglandular...

Abstract Stream ecosystems are affected by multiple abiotic stressors, and species responses to simultaneous stressors may differ from those predicted based on single‐stressor responses. Using 12 semi‐natural stream channels, we examined the individual interactive effects of flow level (low or high flow) addition fine sediments (grain size <2 mm) key ecosystem processes (leaf breakdown, algal biomass accrual) benthic macroinvertebrate fungal communities. Both had mostly independent...

The encroachment of shrubs into grasslands is common in terrestrial ecosystems dominated by grass. Land abandonment and favourable climatic trends recent decades have favoured the expansion subalpine many mountainous regions across Europe. advance succession from grassland to shrubland expected a major impact on ecosystem functioning. We used DNA metabarcoding assess whether structure soil fungal communities varied along Pyrenees, investigated shrub was associated with changes properties....

In subarctic mountain birch forests, reindeer grazing and moth outbreaks act as important biotic drivers of ecosystem functioning. We investigated how a long-term contrast in regimes short-term ungulate exclusion affected soil fungal bacterial communities forests recovering from recent outbreak. separately described the impacts on microbial for organic mineral layers. Differences were mainly explained by variations between regimes, whereas four-year ungulates had little effect. Soil showed...