Temporal patterns of carbon flow from grassland vegetation to soil microorganisms measured using 13C-labelling and signature fatty acids
(2021) In Plant and Soil 462(1-2). p.245-255- Abstract
Purpose: We investigated how the C flow from plants to microorganisms varies throughout the year in a temperate grassland. Additionally, we investigated how the C flow relates to saprotrophic activity and vegetation changes. Methods: In situ stable isotope pulse labelling (13CO2) was employed to estimate the flow of recently plant-derived C to soil microorganisms by using signature fatty acids. Bacterial and fungal growth was estimated using radio-labelling in laboratory incubations. Results: The C flow from plants to arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi peaked during the warmer parts of the year, but saprotrophic microorganisms showed little temporal variation in C flow. Also saprotrophic fungi received considerable... (More)
Purpose: We investigated how the C flow from plants to microorganisms varies throughout the year in a temperate grassland. Additionally, we investigated how the C flow relates to saprotrophic activity and vegetation changes. Methods: In situ stable isotope pulse labelling (13CO2) was employed to estimate the flow of recently plant-derived C to soil microorganisms by using signature fatty acids. Bacterial and fungal growth was estimated using radio-labelling in laboratory incubations. Results: The C flow from plants to arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi peaked during the warmer parts of the year, but saprotrophic microorganisms showed little temporal variation in C flow. Also saprotrophic fungi received considerable amounts of C from plants throughout the year. Bacterial and fungal growth showed temporal variation with a growth peak in August for both. This suggests a shift in the C source from mainly rhizosphere C in colder parts of the year, to older C-sources in warmer parts of the year (August). Conclusion: We conclude that AM fungi, saprotrophic fungi and bacteria differ in the amount of recently-fixed C they receive from plants throughout the year. Hence, temporal patterns need to be considered to understand ecosystem functioning. The studied plant community included winter annuals, which potentially maintain a high C flow to saprotrophic fungi during the cold season.
(Less)
- author
- Birgander, Johanna LU and Olsson, Pål Axel LU
- organization
- publishing date
- 2021-05-01
- type
- Contribution to journal
- publication status
- published
- subject
- keywords
- Arbuscular mycorrhiza (AM), Fatty acids, PLFA, C, Rhizosphere, Season, Temporal patterns
- in
- Plant and Soil
- volume
- 462
- issue
- 1-2
- pages
- 11 pages
- publisher
- Springer Science and Business Media B.V.
- external identifiers
-
- scopus:85100797734
- ISSN
- 0032-079X
- DOI
- 10.1007/s11104-021-04854-8
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- id
- e6aba19b-2006-4702-bce8-510edb201692
- date added to LUP
- 2021-03-03 08:14:13
- date last changed
- 2025-04-04 15:02:56
@article{e6aba19b-2006-4702-bce8-510edb201692,
abstract = {{<p>Purpose: We investigated how the C flow from plants to microorganisms varies throughout the year in a temperate grassland. Additionally, we investigated how the C flow relates to saprotrophic activity and vegetation changes. Methods: In situ stable isotope pulse labelling (<sup>13</sup>CO<sub>2</sub>) was employed to estimate the flow of recently plant-derived C to soil microorganisms by using signature fatty acids. Bacterial and fungal growth was estimated using radio-labelling in laboratory incubations. Results: The C flow from plants to arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi peaked during the warmer parts of the year, but saprotrophic microorganisms showed little temporal variation in C flow. Also saprotrophic fungi received considerable amounts of C from plants throughout the year. Bacterial and fungal growth showed temporal variation with a growth peak in August for both. This suggests a shift in the C source from mainly rhizosphere C in colder parts of the year, to older C-sources in warmer parts of the year (August). Conclusion: We conclude that AM fungi, saprotrophic fungi and bacteria differ in the amount of recently-fixed C they receive from plants throughout the year. Hence, temporal patterns need to be considered to understand ecosystem functioning. The studied plant community included winter annuals, which potentially maintain a high C flow to saprotrophic fungi during the cold season.</p>}},
author = {{Birgander, Johanna and Olsson, Pål Axel}},
issn = {{0032-079X}},
keywords = {{Arbuscular mycorrhiza (AM); Fatty acids; PLFA, C; Rhizosphere; Season; Temporal patterns}},
language = {{eng}},
month = {{05}},
number = {{1-2}},
pages = {{245--255}},
publisher = {{Springer Science and Business Media B.V.}},
series = {{Plant and Soil}},
title = {{Temporal patterns of carbon flow from grassland vegetation to soil microorganisms measured using 13C-labelling and signature fatty acids}},
url = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11104-021-04854-8}},
doi = {{10.1007/s11104-021-04854-8}},
volume = {{462}},
year = {{2021}},
}