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Ectomycorrhizal fungi are more sensitive to high soil nitrogen levels in forests exposed to nitrogen deposition

Jörgensen, Karolina ; Clemmensen, Karina E. ; Wallander, Håkan LU orcid and Lindahl, Björn D. (2024) In New Phytologist
Abstract

Ectomycorrhizal fungi are essential for nitrogen (N) cycling in many temperate forests and responsive to anthropogenic N addition, which generally decreases host carbon (C) allocation to the fungi. In the boreal region, however, ectomycorrhizal fungal biomass has been found to correlate positively with soil N availability. Still, responses to anthropogenic N input, for instance through atmospheric deposition, are commonly negative. To elucidate whether variation in N supply affects ectomycorrhizal fungi differently depending on geographical context, we investigated ectomycorrhizal fungal communities along fertility gradients located in two nemo-boreal forest regions with similar ranges in soil N : C ratios and inorganic N availability... (More)

Ectomycorrhizal fungi are essential for nitrogen (N) cycling in many temperate forests and responsive to anthropogenic N addition, which generally decreases host carbon (C) allocation to the fungi. In the boreal region, however, ectomycorrhizal fungal biomass has been found to correlate positively with soil N availability. Still, responses to anthropogenic N input, for instance through atmospheric deposition, are commonly negative. To elucidate whether variation in N supply affects ectomycorrhizal fungi differently depending on geographical context, we investigated ectomycorrhizal fungal communities along fertility gradients located in two nemo-boreal forest regions with similar ranges in soil N : C ratios and inorganic N availability but contrasting rates of N deposition. Ectomycorrhizal biomass and community composition remained relatively stable across the N gradient with low atmospheric N deposition, but biomass decreased and the community changed more drastically with increasing N availability in the gradient subjected to higher rates of N deposition. Moreover, potential activities of enzymes involved in ectomycorrhizal mobilisation of organic N decreased as N availability increased. In forests with low external input, we propose that stabilising feedbacks in tree-fungal interactions maintain ectomycorrhizal fungal biomass and communities even in N-rich soils. By contrast, anthropogenic N input seems to impair ectomycorrhizal functions.

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author
; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
epub
subject
keywords
coniferous forest, ectomycorrhizal communities, enzyme activities, ergosterol, fungal biomass, nitrogen deposition
in
New Phytologist
pages
14 pages
publisher
Wiley-Blackwell
external identifiers
  • pmid:38213001
  • scopus:85182214476
ISSN
0028-646X
DOI
10.1111/nph.19509
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
bf0197b7-c7bc-4fa2-b0c0-f138cb7835a9
date added to LUP
2024-02-19 12:11:29
date last changed
2024-04-19 14:12:27
@article{bf0197b7-c7bc-4fa2-b0c0-f138cb7835a9,
  abstract     = {{<p>Ectomycorrhizal fungi are essential for nitrogen (N) cycling in many temperate forests and responsive to anthropogenic N addition, which generally decreases host carbon (C) allocation to the fungi. In the boreal region, however, ectomycorrhizal fungal biomass has been found to correlate positively with soil N availability. Still, responses to anthropogenic N input, for instance through atmospheric deposition, are commonly negative. To elucidate whether variation in N supply affects ectomycorrhizal fungi differently depending on geographical context, we investigated ectomycorrhizal fungal communities along fertility gradients located in two nemo-boreal forest regions with similar ranges in soil N : C ratios and inorganic N availability but contrasting rates of N deposition. Ectomycorrhizal biomass and community composition remained relatively stable across the N gradient with low atmospheric N deposition, but biomass decreased and the community changed more drastically with increasing N availability in the gradient subjected to higher rates of N deposition. Moreover, potential activities of enzymes involved in ectomycorrhizal mobilisation of organic N decreased as N availability increased. In forests with low external input, we propose that stabilising feedbacks in tree-fungal interactions maintain ectomycorrhizal fungal biomass and communities even in N-rich soils. By contrast, anthropogenic N input seems to impair ectomycorrhizal functions.</p>}},
  author       = {{Jörgensen, Karolina and Clemmensen, Karina E. and Wallander, Håkan and Lindahl, Björn D.}},
  issn         = {{0028-646X}},
  keywords     = {{coniferous forest; ectomycorrhizal communities; enzyme activities; ergosterol; fungal biomass; nitrogen deposition}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  publisher    = {{Wiley-Blackwell}},
  series       = {{New Phytologist}},
  title        = {{Ectomycorrhizal fungi are more sensitive to high soil nitrogen levels in forests exposed to nitrogen deposition}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/nph.19509}},
  doi          = {{10.1111/nph.19509}},
  year         = {{2024}},
}