Review
Plant Sciences
Louise Authier, Cyrille Violle, Franck Richard
Summary: Trees acquire hydric and mineral soil resources through root mutualistic associations, in which ectomycorrhizal (ECM) fungi play a crucial role. However, our understanding of below-ground facets of anthropogenic and inter-tropical forests is limited. Future research should focus on the application of ECM network theory to urban soils.
FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Plant Sciences
Karolina Jorgensen, Karina E. Clemmensen, Hakan Wallander, Bjorn D. Lindahl
Summary: In this study, ectomycorrhizal fungal communities were characterized in root-excluding ingrowth mesh bags and adjacent fine roots in mature Picea abies forests. Contrary to previous assumptions, genera thought to produce little extraradical mycelium colonized ingrowth bags extensively, while genera associated with ample mycelial production occurred sparsely in the bags. The results suggest that previous assumptions about soil foraging patterns of exploration types may not hold.
Article
Soil Science
Wanji Guo, Junxiang Ding, Qitong Wang, Mingzhen Yin, Xiaomin Zhu, Qing Liu, Ziliang Zhang, Huajun Yin
Summary: The study conducted N fertilization experiments in alpine forests on the eastern Tibetan Plateau, finding that nitrogen addition promoted mycelial growth in some tree species but repressed it in others, indicating diverse responses of mycelial dynamics to nitrogen deposition based on native soil nutrient availability.
SOIL BIOLOGY & BIOCHEMISTRY
(2021)
Article
Plant Sciences
Jan Hackel, Terry W. Henkel, Pierre-Arthur Moreau, Eske De Crop, Annemieke Verbeken, Mariana Sa, Bart Buyck, Maria-Alice Neves, Aida Vasco-Palacios, Felipe Wartchow, Heidy Schimann, Fabian Carriconde, Sigisfredo Garnica, Regis Courtecuisse, Monique Gardes, Sophie Manzi, Eliane Louisanna, Melanie Roy
Summary: The study reconstructs the biogeography of neotropical fungi and identifies multiple origins and diversification events. The results indicate that neotropical fungi have origins in Africa and Australasia, and are influenced by geographical and climatic factors.
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Wenchen Song, Yijun Zhou
Summary: The study revealed significant correlations between leaf delta N-15 and soil fungal biodiversity, as well as ectomycorrhizal abundance. Similarly, leaf delta C-13 was significantly correlated with ectomycorrhizal abundance and showed an inverted unimodal correlation with plant pathogenic abundance. The findings suggest that leaf delta N-15 and delta C-13 could serve as indicators reflecting soil fungal communities in forest ecosystems.
Article
Plant Sciences
Peter T. Pellitier, Donald R. Zak
Summary: This study investigates the decay potential of ectomycorrhizal (ECM) fungi on soil organic matter (SOM) and the distribution of genes associated with SOM decay in ECM fungal communities in relation to soil inorganic nitrogen availability. It was found that ECM fungal communities in low inorganic nitrogen soils are enriched with genes involved in lignin, cellulose, and chitin decay. These communities exhibit stronger SOM decay potential compared to those in high inorganic nitrogen soils.
Article
Forestry
Pablo Martin-Pinto, Juan Andres Oria-de-Rueda, Tatek Dejene, Olaya Mediavilla, Maria Hernandez-Rodriguez, Jose A. Reque, Ignacio Sanz-Benito, Maria Santos, Jozsef Geml
Summary: Cistus ladanifer-dominated ecosystems in the Western Mediterranean basin have significant ecological benefits through mushroom production. The soil fungal community in these ecosystems is influenced by stand age, climate, and soil parameters. Understanding these factors can aid in restoring and promoting fungal diversity, production, and function in these scrubland systems. Mosaic landscapes and retaining late successional stands are important management strategies to support fungal diversity in these ecosystems.
FOREST ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Leah Thompson, Sean O. Swift, Cameron P. Egan, Danyel Yogi, Thomas Chapin, Nicole A. Hynson
Summary: This study examines the effects of changes in ectomycorrhizal fungal community structure on root colonization and seedling biomass during pine invasions. The results show that the composition and traits of ectomycorrhizal fungi vary across the landscape and have a significant impact on the success of pine invasions. Suillus spp. dominates areas without pine trees, but its success is contingent on a lack of competition with other ectomycorrhizal fungi.
Article
Forestry
Xue Yang, Ming Xu, Jiao Zhang, Chun-Yu Wen, Jian Zhang
Summary: Despite the importance of resin tapping, its influence on the EMF communities associated with Pinus massoniana is not well understood. This study found that resin tapping significantly altered the composition and structure of the EMF community.
FOREST ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT
(2023)
Article
Soil Science
Siya Shao, Nina Wurzburger, Benjamin Sulman, Caitlin Hicks Pries
Summary: It has been proposed that competition between ectomycorrhizal (ECM) fungi and free-living saprotrophs for resources like nitrogen (N) slows decomposition and increases the soil carbon storage in ECM ecosystems compared to arbuscular (AM) ecosystems. Theoretical modeling experiments were conducted to explore the conditions under which ECM N acquisition processes induce stronger saprotrophic N limitation and result in slower decomposition rates and greater soil organic carbon accumulation than AM processes. The results revealed that the ECM fungi more strongly inhibited decomposition when litter inputs were N-depleted and relatively recalcitrant and when ECM fungi possessed a strong capacity to mine N from both recalcitrant soil organic matter and microbial necromass. Climate and seasonality also played a role in the ECM competition effect.
SOIL BIOLOGY & BIOCHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Nan Yang, Jiani Hua, Jiangbao Zhang, Dong Liu, Parag Bhople, Xiuxiu Li, Yan Zhang, Honghua Ruan, Wei Xing, Lingfeng Mao
Summary: This study investigates the influence of soil and plant diversity on the community composition and functional diversity of ectomycorrhizal fungi in different coniferous forests in the Southern Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. The findings provide insights into the dynamics of ectomycorrhizal fungi and local influencing factors in subalpine climatic zones.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Jenise M. Bauman, Jennifer Franklin, Amy Santas
Summary: This study investigated the influence of herbaceous species on the establishment of hybrid chestnut and ectomycorrhizal root colonization on three surface mines in eastern Tennessee. The results showed that Lespedeza cuneata did not impede hybrid chestnut establishment or ECM root colonization, but significant differences were observed in herbaceous cover and seedling growth among the sites.
ECOLOGICAL RESTORATION
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Yue Ren, Mishan Guo, Guodong Ding, Yue Wang
Summary: This study investigated the variation of ectomycorrhizal (EcM) fungal communities associated with Pinus sylvestris root samples of different age groups in Mu Us Desert. The results showed that the EcM fungal community was enriched with multiple species, and the variation in abundance contributed to community differences. Although the diversity index and fungal species richness increased towards the mature forest, they did not reach a significant level. The dominant EcM fungal community was mainly affected by soil factors such as available potassium, soil stress index, and soil organic carbon.
FRONTIERS IN ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Amelia A. Fitch, Ashley K. Lang, Emily D. Whalen, Eliza M. Helmers, Sarah G. Goldsmith, Caitlin Hicks Pries
Summary: Forests in the northeastern US are facing shifts in community composition due to the northward migration of warm-adapted tree species and declines of certain species caused by invasive insects. These changes will impact belowground fungal communities and their associated functions. This study examined the importance of mycorrhizal type and leaf habit on soil fungal communities and organic matter cycling. Results showed that each tree species had distinct fungal communities and mycorrhizal type was a better predictor of fungal communities. Saprotrophic fungi played a significant role in shaping fungal community differences in soils beneath all tree species.
Article
Ecology
Junni Wang, Shijie Han, Cunguo Wang, Mai -He Li
Summary: Nitrogen deposition has significant effects on the structure and function of forest ecosystems. This study investigates the effects of long-term nitrogen addition on the diversity and composition of ectomycorrhizal (ECM) fungal communities in three tree species in a temperate forest in northeastern China. The results show that nitrogen addition decreases ECM fungal diversity, alters community composition, and is associated with fine root traits and soil factors. These findings have important implications for understanding the effects of changing ECM fungal communities on carbon and nitrogen cycling in forest ecosystems under increasing nitrogen deposition.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF SOIL BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Plant Sciences
Camille E. Defrenne, M. Luke McCormack, W. Jean Roach, Shalom D. Addo-Danso, Suzanne W. Simard
Article
Plant Sciences
Shalom D. Addo-Danso, Camille E. Defrenne, M. Luke McCormack, Ivika Ostonen, Abigail Addo-Danso, Ernest G. Foli, Kira A. Borden, Marney E. Isaac, Cindy E. Prescott
Article
Plant Sciences
Jinsong Wang, Camille Defrenne, M. Luke McCormack, Lu Yang, Dashuan Tian, Yiqi Luo, Enqing Hou, Tao Yan, Zhaolei Li, Wensheng Bu, Ye Chen, Shuli Niu
Summary: The research found that warming has significant effects on the functional traits of absorptive plant roots, with fine-root biomass, production, respiration, and nitrogen concentration increasing with warming, while root carbon : nitrogen ratio and nonstructural carbohydrates decreasing. In short-term experiments, the effect of warming on fine-root biomass weakens with increasing warming magnitude, and the positive effect of warming on fine-root biomass is most pronounced in deeper soil horizons and colder, drier regions.
Editorial Material
Plant Sciences
Camille E. Defrenne, Elsa Abs, Amanda Longhi Cordeiro, Lee Dietterich, Moira Hough, Jennifer M. Jones, Stephanie N. Kivlin, Weile Chen, Daniela Cusack, Andre L. C. Franco, Albina Khasanova, Daniel Stover, Adriana L. Romero-Olivares
Article
Ecology
Colleen M. Iversen, John Latimer, Deanne J. Brice, Joanne Childs, Holly M. Vander Stel, Camille E. Defrenne, Jake Graham, Natalie A. Griffiths, Avni Malhotra, Richard J. Norby, Keith C. Oleheiser, Jana R. Phillips, Verity G. Salmon, Stephen D. Sebestyen, Xiaojuan Yang, Paul J. Hanson
Summary: Warming is found to exponentially increase plant-available ammonium and phosphate in a peatland ecosystem, with no effect from elevated CO2 levels. The dynamics of nutrient availability are influenced by peat depth and microtopography. Future predictions of peatland nutrient availability should take into account dynamic changes in nutrient acquisition by plants and microbes, as well as peat depth and microtopography.
Article
Plant Sciences
Camille E. Defrenne, Jessica A. M. Moore, Colin L. Tucker, Louis J. Lamit, Evan S. Kane, Randall K. Kolka, Rodney A. Chimner, Jason K. Keller, Erik A. Lilleskov
Summary: Drainage-induced encroachment by trees can impact the carbon balance of peatlands, with microbial communities playing a key role. Our study examined the soil fungal community along drainage gradients, finding a shift in mycorrhizal associations towards ditches. This shift was associated with peat loss due to oxidation and the dominance of a specific ectomycorrhizal genus.
Article
Ecology
Alyssa J. Robinson, Camille E. Defrenne, W. Jean Roach, Caren C. Dymond, Brian J. Pickles, Suzanne W. Simard
Summary: Improved forest management, specifically low intensity harvesting systems, are necessary to preserve forest carbon stocks, particularly in Douglas-fir stands. Climate aridity and high emissions from climate change can lead to significant carbon losses in forests. Belowground carbon stocks are less affected by harvesting intensity compared to aboveground carbon stocks.
FRONTIERS IN FORESTS AND GLOBAL CHANGE
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Camille E. Defrenne, Joanne Childs, Christopher W. Fernandez, Michael Taggart, W. Robert Nettles, Michael F. Allen, Paul J. Hanson, Colleen M. Iversen
Summary: This study utilized high-resolution minirhizotron technology in a forested bog to investigate the dynamics of plant fine roots and fungal mycelium, revealing that ericaceous shrub roots and ectomycorrhizal fungal rhizomorphs were more abundant in warmer and drier peat, while tree fine roots, ectomycorrhizas, and dark-colored fungal hyphae were more prevalent in colder, wetter peat. The warmer end of the experimental temperature gradient extended the belowground active season for both plant roots and fungi by 62 days, impacting belowground carbon, water, and nutrient fluxes.
PLANTS PEOPLE PLANET
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Winnifred Jean Roach, Suzanne W. Simard, Camille E. Defrenne, Brian J. Pickles, Les M. Lavkulich, Teresa L. Ryan
Summary: The study shows that as aridity increases and precipitation decreases, tree species richness, site index, and carbon storage in existing Douglas-fir forests decline.
FRONTIERS IN FORESTS AND GLOBAL CHANGE
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Daniela Yaffar, Camille E. Defrenne, Kristine G. Cabugao, Stephanie N. Kivlin, Joanne Childs, Niko Carvajal, Richard J. Norby
Summary: This study found that successful tree species in tropical lowlands have different strategies to acquire phosphorus from the soil, including adjusting fine-root traits. The research revealed that pioneer and non-pioneer species adopt different root trait expression strategies, and most of the root trait expressions remained stable after hurricane disturbances.
FRONTIERS IN FORESTS AND GLOBAL CHANGE
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Suzanne W. Simard, W. Jean Roach, Camille E. Defrenne, Brian J. Pickles, Eva N. Snyder, Alyssa Robinson, Les M. Lavkulich
FRONTIERS IN FORESTS AND GLOBAL CHANGE
(2020)