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Fetzer J, Moiseev P, Frossard E, Kaiser K, Mayer M, Gavazov K, Hagedorn F. Plant-soil interactions alter nitrogen and phosphorus dynamics in an advancing subarctic treeline. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2024; 30:e17200. [PMID: 38433308 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.17200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2023] [Revised: 01/22/2024] [Accepted: 01/22/2024] [Indexed: 03/05/2024]
Abstract
Treelines advance due to climate warming. The impacts of this vegetation shift on plant-soil nutrient cycling are still uncertain, yet highly relevant as nutrient availability stimulates tree growth. Here, we investigated nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) in plant and soil pools along two tundra-forest transects on Kola Peninsula, Russia, with a documented elevation shift of birch-dominated treeline by 70 m during the last 50 years. Results show that although total N and P stocks in the soil-plant system did not change with elevation, their distribution was significantly altered. With the transition from high-elevation tundra to low-elevation forest, P stocks in stones decreased, possibly reflecting enhanced weathering. In contrast, N and P stocks in plant biomass approximately tripled and available P and N in the soil increased fivefold toward the forest. This was paralleled by decreasing carbon (C)-to-nutrient ratios in foliage and litter, smaller C:N:P ratios in microbial biomass, and lower enzymatic activities related to N and P acquisition in forest soils. An incubation experiment further demonstrated manifold higher N and P net mineralization rates in litter and soil in forest compared to tundra, likely due to smaller C:N:P ratios in decomposing organic matter. Overall, our results show that forest expansion increases the mobilization of available nutrients through enhanced weathering and positive plant-soil feedback, with nutrient-rich forest litter releasing greater amounts of N and P upon decomposition. While the low N and P availability in tundra may retard treeline advances, its improvement toward the forest likely promotes tree growth and forest development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jasmin Fetzer
- Forest Soils and Biogeochemistry, Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research WSL, Birmensdorf, Switzerland
- Department of Environmental Systems Science, ETH Zurich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Pavel Moiseev
- Institute of Plant and Animal Ecology, Ekaterinenburg, Russia
| | - Emmanuel Frossard
- Department of Environmental Systems Science, ETH Zurich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Klaus Kaiser
- Soil Science and Soil Protection, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Mathias Mayer
- Forest Soils and Biogeochemistry, Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research WSL, Birmensdorf, Switzerland
- Department of Forest and Soil Sciences, Institute of Forest Ecology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences (BOKU), Vienna, Austria
- Forest Ecology, Institute of Terrestrial Ecosystems (ITES), ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Konstantin Gavazov
- Forest Soils and Biogeochemistry, Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research WSL, Birmensdorf, Switzerland
| | - Frank Hagedorn
- Forest Soils and Biogeochemistry, Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research WSL, Birmensdorf, Switzerland
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Jin X, Zhu J, Wei X, Xiao Q, Xiao J, Jiang L, Xu D, Shen C, Liu J, He Z. Adaptation Strategies of Seedling Root Response to Nitrogen and Phosphorus Addition. PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2024; 13:536. [PMID: 38498541 PMCID: PMC10892864 DOI: 10.3390/plants13040536] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2024] [Revised: 02/11/2024] [Accepted: 02/12/2024] [Indexed: 03/20/2024]
Abstract
The escalation of global nitrogen deposition levels has heightened the inhibitory impact of phosphorus limitation on plant growth in subtropical forests. Plant roots area particularly sensitive tissue to nitrogen and phosphorus elements. Changes in the morphological characteristics of plant roots signify alterations in adaptive strategies. However, our understanding of resource-use strategies of roots in this environment remains limited. In this study, we conducted a 10-month experiment at the Castanopsis kawakamii Nature Reserve to evaluate the response of traits of seedling roots (such as specific root length, average diameter, nitrogen content, and phosphorus content) to nitrogen and phosphorus addition. The aim was to reveal the adaptation strategies of roots in different nitrogen and phosphorus addition concentrations. The results showed that: (1) The single phosphorus and nitrogen-phosphorus interaction addition increased the specific root length, surface area, and root phosphorus content. In addition, single nitrogen addition promotes an increase in the average root diameter. (2) Non-nitrogen phosphorus addition and single nitrogen addition tended to adopt a conservative resource-use strategy to maintain growth under low phosphorus conditions. (3) Under the single phosphorus addition and interactive addition of phosphorus and nitrogen, the roots adopted an acquisitive resource-use strategy to obtain more available phosphorus resources. Accordingly, the adaptation strategy of seedling roots can be regulated by adding appropriate concentrations of nitrogen or phosphorus, thereby promoting the natural regeneration of subtropical forests.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xing Jin
- College of Forestry, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China; (X.J.); (J.Z.); (X.W.); (Q.X.); (J.X.); (L.J.); (D.X.)
- Key Laboratory of Ecology and Resource Statistics in Fujian Province, Fuzhou 350002, China
| | - Jing Zhu
- College of Forestry, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China; (X.J.); (J.Z.); (X.W.); (Q.X.); (J.X.); (L.J.); (D.X.)
- Key Laboratory of Ecology and Resource Statistics in Fujian Province, Fuzhou 350002, China
| | - Xin Wei
- College of Forestry, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China; (X.J.); (J.Z.); (X.W.); (Q.X.); (J.X.); (L.J.); (D.X.)
- Key Laboratory of Ecology and Resource Statistics in Fujian Province, Fuzhou 350002, China
| | - Qianru Xiao
- College of Forestry, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China; (X.J.); (J.Z.); (X.W.); (Q.X.); (J.X.); (L.J.); (D.X.)
- Key Laboratory of Ecology and Resource Statistics in Fujian Province, Fuzhou 350002, China
| | - Jingyu Xiao
- College of Forestry, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China; (X.J.); (J.Z.); (X.W.); (Q.X.); (J.X.); (L.J.); (D.X.)
- Key Laboratory of Ecology and Resource Statistics in Fujian Province, Fuzhou 350002, China
| | - Lan Jiang
- College of Forestry, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China; (X.J.); (J.Z.); (X.W.); (Q.X.); (J.X.); (L.J.); (D.X.)
- Key Laboratory of Ecology and Resource Statistics in Fujian Province, Fuzhou 350002, China
| | - Daowei Xu
- College of Forestry, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China; (X.J.); (J.Z.); (X.W.); (Q.X.); (J.X.); (L.J.); (D.X.)
- Key Laboratory of Ecology and Resource Statistics in Fujian Province, Fuzhou 350002, China
| | - Caixia Shen
- School of Economics and Management, Sanming University, Sanming 365000, China;
| | - Jinfu Liu
- College of Forestry, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China; (X.J.); (J.Z.); (X.W.); (Q.X.); (J.X.); (L.J.); (D.X.)
- Key Laboratory of Ecology and Resource Statistics in Fujian Province, Fuzhou 350002, China
| | - Zhongsheng He
- College of Forestry, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China; (X.J.); (J.Z.); (X.W.); (Q.X.); (J.X.); (L.J.); (D.X.)
- Key Laboratory of Ecology and Resource Statistics in Fujian Province, Fuzhou 350002, China
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3
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Zhang YY, Yan JM, Zhou XB, Zhang YM, Tao Y. Effects of N and P additions on twig traits of wild apple (Malus sieversii) saplings. BMC PLANT BIOLOGY 2023; 23:257. [PMID: 37189097 DOI: 10.1186/s12870-023-04245-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2023] [Accepted: 04/23/2023] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Wild apple (Malus sieversii) is under second-class national protection in China and one of the lineal ancestors of cultivated apples worldwide. In recent decades, the natural habitation area of wild apple trees has been seriously declining, resulting in a lack of saplings and difficulty in population regeneration. Artificial near-natural breeding is crucial for protecting and restoring wild apple populations, and adding nitrogen (N) and phosphorous (P) is one of the important measures to improve the growth performance of saplings. In this study, field experiments using N (CK, N1, N2, and N3: 0, 10, 20, and 40 g m- 2 yr- 1, respectively), P (CK, P1, P2, and P3: 0, 2, 4, and 8 g m- 2 yr- 1, respectively), N20Px (CK, N2P1, N2P2, and N2P3: N20P2, N20P4 and N20P8 g m- 2 yr- 1, respectively), and NxP4 (CK, N1P2, N2P2, and N3P2: N10P4, N20P4, and N40P4 g m- 2 yr- 1, respectively) treatments (totaling 12 levels, including one CK) were conducted in four consecutive years. The twig traits (including four current-year stem, 10 leaf, and three ratio traits) and comprehensive growth performance of wild apple saplings were analyzed under different nutrient treatments. RESULTS N addition had a significantly positive effect on stem length, basal diameter, leaf area, and leaf dry mass, whereas P addition had a significantly positive effect on stem length and basal diameter only. The combination of N and P (NxP4 and N20Px) treatments evidently promoted stem growth at moderate concentrations; however, the N20Px treatment showed a markedly negative effect at low concentrations and a positive effect at moderate and high concentrations. The ratio traits (leaf intensity, leaf area ratio, and leaf to stem mass ratio) decreased with the increase in nutrient concentration under each treatment. In the plant trait network, basal diameter, stem mass, and twig mass were tightly connected to other traits after nutrient treatments, indicating that stem traits play an important role in twig growth. The membership function revealed that the greatest comprehensive growth performance of saplings was achieved after N addition alone, followed by that under the NxP4 treatment (except for N40P4). CONCLUSIONS Consequently, artificial nutrient treatments for four years significantly but differentially altered the growth status of wild apple saplings, and the use of appropriate N fertilizer promoted sapling growth. These results can provide scientific basis for the conservation and management of wild apple populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuan-Yuan Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Desert and Oasis Ecology, Key Laboratory of Ecological Safety and Sustainable Development in Arid Lands, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi, 830011, Xinjiang, China
- Xinjiang Key Laboratory of Conservation and Utilization of Plant Gene Resources, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi, 830011, Xinjiang, China
| | - Jing-Ming Yan
- State Key Laboratory of Desert and Oasis Ecology, Key Laboratory of Ecological Safety and Sustainable Development in Arid Lands, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi, 830011, Xinjiang, China
- Xinjiang Key Laboratory of Conservation and Utilization of Plant Gene Resources, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi, 830011, Xinjiang, China
| | - Xiao-Bing Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Desert and Oasis Ecology, Key Laboratory of Ecological Safety and Sustainable Development in Arid Lands, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi, 830011, Xinjiang, China
- Xinjiang Key Laboratory of Conservation and Utilization of Plant Gene Resources, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi, 830011, Xinjiang, China
| | - Yuan-Ming Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Desert and Oasis Ecology, Key Laboratory of Ecological Safety and Sustainable Development in Arid Lands, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi, 830011, Xinjiang, China
- Xinjiang Key Laboratory of Conservation and Utilization of Plant Gene Resources, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi, 830011, Xinjiang, China
| | - Ye Tao
- State Key Laboratory of Desert and Oasis Ecology, Key Laboratory of Ecological Safety and Sustainable Development in Arid Lands, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi, 830011, Xinjiang, China.
- Xinjiang Key Laboratory of Conservation and Utilization of Plant Gene Resources, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi, 830011, Xinjiang, China.
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4
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Liu Q, Song M, Kou L, Li Q, Wang H. Contrasting effects of nitrogen and phosphorus additions on nitrogen competition between coniferous and broadleaf seedlings. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 861:160661. [PMID: 36473665 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.160661] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2022] [Revised: 11/29/2022] [Accepted: 11/29/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Nitrogen (N) is a major element limiting plant growth and metabolism. Nitrogen addition can influence plant growth, N uptake, and species interactions, while phosphorus (P) addition may affect N acquisition. However, knowledge of how nutrient availability influences N uptake and species interactions remains limited and controversial. Here, pot experiments were conducted for 14 months, in which conifers (Pinus massoniana and Pinus elliottii) and broadleaved trees (Michelia maudiae and Schima superba) were planted in monoculture or mixture, and provided additional N and P in a full-factorial design. Nitrogen addition increased the biomass, but P addition did not significantly affect the biomass of the four subtropical species. Combined N and P (NP) addition had no additive effect on plant biomass over N addition. Total plant biomass was significantly positively correlated to root traits (branching intensity and root tissue density) and leaf traits (net photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance, and transpiration rate), but negatively correlated to root diameter in response to nutrient addition. Plant uptake rates of NH4+ or NO3- were not altered by N addition, but P or NP additions decreased NH4+ uptake rates and increased NO3- uptake rates. Neighboring conifers significantly inhibited NH4+ and NO3- uptake rates of the two broadleaf species, but neighboring broadleaves had no effects on the N uptake rates of pine species. The effects of nutrient additions on interspecific interactions differed among species. Nitrogen addition altered the interaction of P. elliottii and M. maudiae from neutral to competition, while P addition altered the interaction of P. massoniana and M. maudiae from neutral to favorable effects. Increasing nutrient availability switched the direction of interspecific interaction in favor of pines. This study provides insights into forest management for productivity improvement and optimizing the selection of broadleaf species regarding differences in soil fertility of subtropical plantations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qianyuan Liu
- School of Geographical Sciences, Hebei Key Laboratory of Environmental Change and Ecological Construction, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang, Hebei 050024, China; Qianyanzhou Ecological Research Station, Key Laboratory of Ecosystem Network Observation and Modeling, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Minghua Song
- Qianyanzhou Ecological Research Station, Key Laboratory of Ecosystem Network Observation and Modeling, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Liang Kou
- Qianyanzhou Ecological Research Station, Key Laboratory of Ecosystem Network Observation and Modeling, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Qingkang Li
- Qianyanzhou Ecological Research Station, Key Laboratory of Ecosystem Network Observation and Modeling, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; Zhongke Ji'an Institute for Eco-environmental Sciences, Jiangxi Province 343016, China
| | - Huimin Wang
- Qianyanzhou Ecological Research Station, Key Laboratory of Ecosystem Network Observation and Modeling, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; Zhongke Ji'an Institute for Eco-environmental Sciences, Jiangxi Province 343016, China.
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5
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Razgulin SM. Mycorrhizal Complexes and Their Role in the Ecology of Boreal Forests (Review). BIOL BULL+ 2022. [DOI: 10.1134/s1062359022060140] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
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6
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Effects of Liming on the Morphologies and Nutrients of Different Functional Fine Roots of Cunninghamia lanceolata Seedlings. FORESTS 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/f13060822] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Soil acidification is an important cause of the productivity decline of Chinese fir (Cunninghamia lanceolata (Lamb.) Hook)—one of the most important timber species in China. Although liming is an effective measure for reversing the effects of soil acidification, the effects on the morphologies and nutrients of different functional roots remain ambiguous. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the effects of liming on fine root traits of Chinese fir seedlings between two root function types (absorptive roots (AR) and transport roots (TR)). Chinese fir seedlings with equal performance were planted in each pot with two acidification soils (pH 3.6 and pH 4.3) and three levels of liming (0, 1000, and 4000 kg CaO ha−1). Our data showed that liming had no effect on the root biomass (RB) of AR and TR in mildly acidified soil, but it decreased the RB in severely acidified soil. Specific root length (SRL) of AR and TR were significantly increased by 24% and 27% with a high liming dose in mildly acidified soil, respectively. The specific root areas (SRA) of AR and TR were significantly increased by 10% and 22% with a high liming dose in mildly acidified soil, respectively. Furthermore, root N concentrations were significantly increased by 26% and 30% in AR and TR with a high liming dose in mildly acidified soil, respectively. Root P concentration of AR was significantly increased by 21% with a high liming dose in mildly acidified soil while root Ca concentration was significantly increased with all treatments. A similar trend was also observed in the Ca/Al ratio of roots. Both low and high doses of liming decreased the root Al concentration of AR by 26% and 31% in mildly acidified soil, respectively; however, there was no significant effect on TR in both soils. Our findings indicated that liming could alleviate Al toxicity to fine roots and increase root investment efficiency and absorption capacity. Liming also had coordinate effects on SRL, SRA, Root tissue density (RTD), N, P, Ca and Ca/Al between AR and TR. Our study suggested that to gain a comprehensive understanding of plant growth strategy, researchers in future studies must consider different functional roots rather than just the absorption part. Our results also revealed that the root system became more “acquisitive” due to the remediation of Al toxicity, which may be an important mechanism underlying the increment of the productivity of Chinese fir plantations undergoing liming.
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Li J, Zhao Y, Shao X, Huang D, Shang J, Li H, He Y, Liu K. The Mixed Addition of Biochar and Nitrogen Improves Soil Properties and Microbial Structure of Moderate-Severe Degraded Alpine Grassland in Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2021; 12:765041. [PMID: 34880889 PMCID: PMC8647844 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2021.765041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2021] [Accepted: 10/18/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
The degradation of the grassland system has severely threatened the safety of the ecological environment and animal husbandry. The supplement of key substances lost due to degradation is widely used to accelerate the restoration of the degraded grassland ecosystem. In this study, we investigated the effects of biochar and nitrogen addition on soil properties and microorganisms of degraded alpine grassland. The experimental treatments consisted of the control without any addition, only nitrogen addition (10 gN/m2), only biochar addition (4.00 kg/m2 biochar), and the mixed addition of biochar and nitrogen (4.00 kg/m2 biochar and 10 gN/m2 nitrogen, respectively). Adding N alone did not significantly change the pH, total organic carbon (TOC), total nitrogen (TN), microbial biomass (MB), and the composition proportion of microbes of the soil, but increased the contents of soil water content (SWC), NH4 +-N, NO3 --N, available phosphorus (AP), and the biomass of bacteria and fungi. The addition of biochar or the mixture of biochar and nitrogen increased the contents of pH, TOC, TN, MB, SWC, NH4 +-N, NO3 --N, AP, bacteria, and fungi in the soil and changed the structure of the soil microbial community. The increasing intensity of AP, bacteria, and fungi under the addition of biochar or the mixture of biochar and nitrogen was significantly greater than that under N addition alone. These results indicated that the separated addition of nitrogen and biochar and the mixed addition of biochar and nitrogen all improved the soil condition of the moderate-severe degraded alpine grassland, but the mixed addition of biochar and nitrogen could be a better strategy to remediate the degraded alpine grassland.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinsheng Li
- College of Grassland Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Yinquan Zhao
- College of Tourism and Urban Planning, Chengdu University of Technology, Chengdu, China
| | - Xinqing Shao
- College of Grassland Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Ding Huang
- College of Grassland Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Jianying Shang
- College of Land Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Hui Li
- College of Grassland Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Yixuan He
- College of Grassland Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Kesi Liu
- College of Grassland Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
- Key Laboratory of Restoration Ecology of Cold Area in Qinghai Province, Northwest Institute of Plateau Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xining, China
- National Field Station of Grassland Ecosystem, Guyuan, China
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8
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Beidler KV, Oh YE, Pritchard SG, Phillips RP. Mycorrhizal roots slow the decay of belowground litters in a temperate hardwood forest. Oecologia 2021; 197:743-755. [PMID: 34626268 DOI: 10.1007/s00442-021-05051-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2021] [Accepted: 09/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
There is increasing evidence that plant roots and mycorrhizal fungi, whether living or dead, play a central role in soil carbon (C) cycling. Root-mycorrhizal-microbial interactions can both suppress and enhance litter decay, with the net result dependent upon belowground nutrient acquisition strategies and soil nutrient availability. We measured the net effect of living roots and mycorrhizal fungi on the decay of dead roots and fungal hyphae in a hardwood forest dominated by either sugar maple (Acer saccharum) or white oak (Quercus alba) trees. Root and fungal litter were allowed to decompose within root-ingrowth bags and root-exclusion cores. In conjunction with root effects on decay, we assessed foraging responses and root induced changes in soil moisture, nitrogen (N) availability and enzyme activity. After 1 year, maple root production increased, and mycorrhizal fungal colonization decreased in the presence of decaying litter. In addition, we found that actively foraging roots suppressed the decay of root litter (- 14%) more than fungal litter (- 3%), and suppression of root decay was stronger for oak (- 20%) than maple roots (- 8%). Suppressive effects of oak roots on decay were greatest when roots also reduced soil N availability, which corresponded with reductions in hydrolytic enzyme activity and enhanced oxidative enzyme activities. These findings further our understanding of context-dependent drivers of root-mycorrhizal-microbial interactions and demonstrate that such interactions can play an underappreciated role in soil organic matter accumulation and turnover in temperate forests.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katilyn V Beidler
- Department of Biology, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, 47405, USA.
| | - Young E Oh
- Department of Biology, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, 47405, USA
| | - Seth G Pritchard
- Department of Biology, College of Charleston, Charleston, SC, 29424, USA
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9
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Ren J, Fang S, Lin G, Lin F, Yuan Z, Ye J, Wang X, Hao Z, Fortunel C. Tree growth response to soil nutrients and neighborhood crowding varies between mycorrhizal types in an old-growth temperate forest. Oecologia 2021; 197:523-535. [PMID: 34542674 DOI: 10.1007/s00442-021-05034-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2021] [Accepted: 09/06/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Forest dynamics are shaped by both abiotic and biotic factors. Trees associating with different types of mycorrhizal fungi differ in nutrient use and dominate in contrasting environments, but it remains unclear whether they exhibit differential growth responses to local abiotic and biotic gradients where they co-occur. We used 9-year tree census data in a 25-ha old-growth temperate forest in Northeast China to examine differences in tree growth response to soil nutrients and neighborhood crowding between tree species associating with arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM), ectomycorrhizal (EM), and dual-mycorrhizal (AEM) fungi. In addition, we tested the role of individual-level vs species-level leaf traits in capturing differences in tree growth response to soil nutrients and neighborhood crowding across mycorrhizal types. Across 25 species, soil nutrients decreased AM tree growth, while neighborhood crowding reduced both AM and EM tree growth, and neither soil nor neighbors impacted AEM tree growth. Across mycorrhizal types, individual-level traits were stronger predictors of tree growth than species-level traits. However, most traits poorly mediated tree growth response to soil nutrients and neighborhood crowding. Our findings indicate that mycorrhizal types strongly shape differences in tree growth response to local soil and crowding gradients, and suggest that including plant-mycorrhizae associations in future work offers great potential to improve our understanding of forest dynamics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Ren
- Key Laboratory of Forest Ecology and Management, Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang, 110016, China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China.,AMAP (Botanique et Modélisation de l'Architecture des Plantes et des Végétations), Université de Montpellier, CIRAD, CNRS, INRAE, IRD, Montpellier, France
| | - Shuai Fang
- Key Laboratory of Forest Ecology and Management, Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang, 110016, China
| | - Guigang Lin
- Key Laboratory of Forest Ecology and Management, Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang, 110016, China
| | - Fei Lin
- Key Laboratory of Forest Ecology and Management, Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang, 110016, China
| | - Zuoqiang Yuan
- Key Laboratory of Forest Ecology and Management, Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang, 110016, China
| | - Ji Ye
- Key Laboratory of Forest Ecology and Management, Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang, 110016, China
| | - Xugao Wang
- Key Laboratory of Forest Ecology and Management, Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang, 110016, China
| | - Zhanqing Hao
- Key Laboratory of Forest Ecology and Management, Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang, 110016, China. .,Research Center for Ecological and Environmental Sciences, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an, 710072, China.
| | - Claire Fortunel
- AMAP (Botanique et Modélisation de l'Architecture des Plantes et des Végétations), Université de Montpellier, CIRAD, CNRS, INRAE, IRD, Montpellier, France.
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10
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Netherway T, Bengtsson J, Krab EJ, Bahram M. Biotic interactions with mycorrhizal systems as extended nutrient acquisition strategies shaping forest soil communities and functions. Basic Appl Ecol 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.baae.2020.10.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
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11
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Weemstra M, Peay KG, Davies SJ, Mohamad M, Itoh A, Tan S, Russo SE. Lithological constraints on resource economies shape the mycorrhizal composition of a Bornean rain forest. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2020; 228:253-268. [PMID: 32436227 DOI: 10.1111/nph.16672] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2019] [Accepted: 05/11/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and ectomycorrhizal fungi (EMF) produce contrasting plant-soil feedbacks, but how these feedbacks are constrained by lithology is poorly understood. We investigated the hypothesis that lithological drivers of soil fertility filter plant resource economic strategies in ways that influence the relative fitness of trees with AMF or EMF symbioses in a Bornean rain forest containing species with both mycorrhizal strategies. Using forest inventory data on 1245 tree species, we found that although AMF-hosting trees had greater relative dominance on all soil types, with declining lithological soil fertility EMF-hosting trees became more dominant. Data on 13 leaf traits and wood density for a total of 150 species showed that variation was almost always associated with soil type, whereas for six leaf traits (structural properties; carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus ratios, nitrogen isotopes), variation was also associated with mycorrhizal strategy. EMF-hosting species had slower leaf economics than AMF-hosts, demonstrating the central role of mycorrhizal symbiosis in plant resource economies. At the global scale, climate has been shown to shape forest mycorrhizal composition, but here we show that in communities it depends on soil lithology, suggesting scale-dependent abiotic factors influence feedbacks underlying the relative fitness of different mycorrhizal strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monique Weemstra
- Centre d'Ecologie Fonctionnelle et Evolutive, UMR 5175 (CNRS - Université de Montpellier - Université Paul-Valéry, Montpellier), 1919 route de Mende, Montpellier, 34293, France
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Nebraska - Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, 68588-0118, USA
| | - Kabir G Peay
- Department of Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
| | - Stuart J Davies
- Forest Global Earth Observatory, Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, PO Box 37012, Washington, DC, 20013, USA
| | - Mohizah Mohamad
- Forest Department Sarawak, Wisma Sumber Alam, Petra Jaya, Kuching, Sarawak, 93660, Malaysia
| | - Akira Itoh
- Graduate School of Science, Osaka City University, Osaka, 558-8585, Japan
| | - Sylvester Tan
- Smithsonian ForestGEO, Lambir Hills National Park, Km32 Miri-Bintulu Road, Miri, Sarawak, 9800, Malaysia
| | - Sabrina E Russo
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Nebraska - Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, 68588-0118, USA
- Center for Plant Science Innovation, University of Nebraska - Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, 68588-0660, USA
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Mason LM, Eagar A, Patel P, Blackwood CB, DeForest JL. Potential microbial bioindicators of phosphorus mining in a temperate deciduous forest. J Appl Microbiol 2020; 130:109-122. [PMID: 32619072 DOI: 10.1111/jam.14761] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2020] [Revised: 06/17/2020] [Accepted: 06/24/2020] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
AIMS The soil microbial community plays a critical role in increasing phosphorus (P) availability in low-P, weathered soils by "mining" recalcitrant organic P through the production of phosphatase enzymes. However, there is a lack of data on the fungal and bacterial taxa which are directly involved in P mining, which could also serve as potential microbial bioindicators of low P availability. METHODS AND RESULTS Leveraging a 5-year P enrichment experiment on low-P forest soils, high-throughput sequencing was used to profile the microbial community to determine which taxa associate closely with P availability. We hypothesized that there would be a specialized group of soil micro-organisms that could access recalcitrant P and whose presence could serve as a bioindicator of P mining. Community profiling revealed several candidate bioindicators of P mining (Russulales, Acidobacteria Subgroup 2, Acidobacteriales, Obscuribacterales and Solibacterales), whose relative abundance declined with elevated P and had a significant, positive association with phosphatase production. In addition, we identified candidate bioindicators of high P availability (Mytilinidales, Sebacinales, Chitinophagales, Cytophagales, Saccharimonadales, Opitulales and Gemmatales). CONCLUSIONS This research provides evidence that mitigating P limitation in this ecosystem may be a specialized trait and is mediated by a few microbial taxa. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY Here, we characterize Orders of soil microbes associated with manipulated phosphorus availability in forest soils to determine bioindicator candidates for phosphorus. Likewise, we provide evidence that the microbial trait to utilize recalcitrant organic forms of P (e.g. P mining) is likely a specialized trait and not common to all members of the soil microbial community. This work further elucidates the role that a complex microbial community plays in the cycling of P in low-P soils, and provides evidence for future studies on microbial linkages to human-induced ecosystem changes.
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Affiliation(s)
- L M Mason
- Department of Environmental and Plant Biology, Ohio University, Athens, OH, USA
| | - A Eagar
- Department of Biological Sciences, Kent State University, Kent, OH, USA
| | - P Patel
- Department of Biological Sciences, Kent State University, Kent, OH, USA
| | - C B Blackwood
- Department of Biological Sciences, Kent State University, Kent, OH, USA
| | - J L DeForest
- Department of Environmental and Plant Biology, Ohio University, Athens, OH, USA
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