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Opposing effects of nitrogen versus phosphorus additions on mycorrhizal fungal abundance along an elevational gradient in tropical montane forests

Camenzind, Tessa ; Homeier, Jürgen ; Dietrich, Karla ; Hempel, Stefan ; Hertel, Dietrich ; Krohn, Andreas ; Leuschner, Christoph ; Oelmann, Yvonne ; Olsson, Pål Axel LU and Suárez, Juan Pablo , et al. (2016) In Soil Biology and Biochemistry 94. p.37-47
Abstract

Studies in temperate systems provide evidence that the abundance of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal (AMF) depends on soil nutrient availability, which is mainly explained in the context of resource stoichiometry and differential plant biomass allocation. We applied this concept to an understudied ecosystem - tropical montane forest - analyzing root and AMF abundance along an elevational gradient with decreasing nutrient availability, combined with responses to nitrogen (N) versus phosphorus (P) additions. At three sites from 1000 to 3000 m above sea-level we analyzed fine root length, AMF root colonization as well as extraradical AMF biomass (neutral lipid fatty acid 16:1ω5, hyphal length and spore counts) in a nutrient manipulation... (More)

Studies in temperate systems provide evidence that the abundance of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal (AMF) depends on soil nutrient availability, which is mainly explained in the context of resource stoichiometry and differential plant biomass allocation. We applied this concept to an understudied ecosystem - tropical montane forest - analyzing root and AMF abundance along an elevational gradient with decreasing nutrient availability, combined with responses to nitrogen (N) versus phosphorus (P) additions. At three sites from 1000 to 3000 m above sea-level we analyzed fine root length, AMF root colonization as well as extraradical AMF biomass (neutral lipid fatty acid 16:1ω5, hyphal length and spore counts) in a nutrient manipulation experiment. We found a significant increase in root length as well as intra- and extraradical AMF abundance with elevation. Overall, P additions significantly increased, whereas N additions decreased AMF abundance, with differential though nonsystematic changes along the elevational gradient. Strongest effects were clearly observed at the intermediate site. These findings suggest a general dependency of roots and AMF on nutrient availability, though responses to N and P additions differed from previous studies in temperate systems. In the context of future nutrient depositions, results suggest diverging responses of AMF abundance depending on site characteristics.

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organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Altitudinal gradient, Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, Root length, Southern Ecuador, Tropical montane forest
in
Soil Biology and Biochemistry
volume
94
pages
11 pages
publisher
Elsevier
external identifiers
  • scopus:84949674099
ISSN
0038-0717
DOI
10.1016/j.soilbio.2015.11.011
language
English
LU publication?
yes
additional info
Publisher Copyright: © 2015 Elsevier Ltd.
id
6f57998f-e050-4bdf-a008-731ba7ea8960
date added to LUP
2025-10-19 09:30:11
date last changed
2025-10-27 14:46:38
@article{6f57998f-e050-4bdf-a008-731ba7ea8960,
  abstract     = {{<p>Studies in temperate systems provide evidence that the abundance of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal (AMF) depends on soil nutrient availability, which is mainly explained in the context of resource stoichiometry and differential plant biomass allocation. We applied this concept to an understudied ecosystem - tropical montane forest - analyzing root and AMF abundance along an elevational gradient with decreasing nutrient availability, combined with responses to nitrogen (N) versus phosphorus (P) additions. At three sites from 1000 to 3000 m above sea-level we analyzed fine root length, AMF root colonization as well as extraradical AMF biomass (neutral lipid fatty acid 16:1ω5, hyphal length and spore counts) in a nutrient manipulation experiment. We found a significant increase in root length as well as intra- and extraradical AMF abundance with elevation. Overall, P additions significantly increased, whereas N additions decreased AMF abundance, with differential though nonsystematic changes along the elevational gradient. Strongest effects were clearly observed at the intermediate site. These findings suggest a general dependency of roots and AMF on nutrient availability, though responses to N and P additions differed from previous studies in temperate systems. In the context of future nutrient depositions, results suggest diverging responses of AMF abundance depending on site characteristics.</p>}},
  author       = {{Camenzind, Tessa and Homeier, Jürgen and Dietrich, Karla and Hempel, Stefan and Hertel, Dietrich and Krohn, Andreas and Leuschner, Christoph and Oelmann, Yvonne and Olsson, Pål Axel and Suárez, Juan Pablo and Rillig, Matthias C.}},
  issn         = {{0038-0717}},
  keywords     = {{Altitudinal gradient; Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi; Root length; Southern Ecuador; Tropical montane forest}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{03}},
  pages        = {{37--47}},
  publisher    = {{Elsevier}},
  series       = {{Soil Biology and Biochemistry}},
  title        = {{Opposing effects of nitrogen versus phosphorus additions on mycorrhizal fungal abundance along an elevational gradient in tropical montane forests}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.soilbio.2015.11.011}},
  doi          = {{10.1016/j.soilbio.2015.11.011}},
  volume       = {{94}},
  year         = {{2016}},
}