Response of ericoid mycorrhizal colonization and functioning to global change factors
Author
Summary, in English
Here, we investigated effects of increased atmospheric CO2 concentration, increased temperatures, and both factors in combination on ericoid mycorrhizal colonization, mycorrhizal functioning and below-ground carbon allocation in a subarctic forest understorey, to evaluate the hypothesis that photosynthesis is a primary driver for mycorrhizal colonization. Treatment effects on ecosystem processes were investigated using C-14-pulse labelling and photosynthesis measurements in combination with analysis of ergosterol content in roots. The effects on delta(15)N in leaves were also studied. Ergosterol content in hair roots was positively correlated with ecosystem photosynthesis and was higher in heat- and CO2-treated plots. Leaves from CO2 Plots tended to be more depleted in N-15 compared with controls both for Vaccinium myrtillus and V. vitis-idaea. Our results suggest that changes in ecosystem photosynthesis, plant carbon (C) Allocation may give rise to changing mycorrhizal colonization under elevated CO2 and temperature. The role of mycorrhizas in ecosystem N-cycling may change on a long-term basis as inorganic N availability declines with increasing levels of atmospheric CO2.
Department/s
Publishing year
2004
Language
English
Pages
459-469
Publication/Series
New Phytologist
Volume
162
Issue
2
Full text
- Available as PDF - 241 kB
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Links
Document type
Journal article
Publisher
Wiley-Blackwell
Topic
- Ecology
- Biological Sciences
- Physical Geography
Status
Published
Research group
- Microbial Ecology
- Biodiversity and Conservation Science
- Plant Biology
ISBN/ISSN/Other
- ISSN: 1469-8137