Soil Carbon Storage in Temperate Heathland and Forest: What Role Do Ericoid Mycorrhizae Play?
(2024) BION02 20232Degree Projects in Biology
- Abstract
- Heathlands have been identified as ecosystems which store large amounts of carbon, especially in soil, which is very important for climate change mitigation. Ericoid mycorrhizae, which are the symbiosis between mycorrhizal fungi and ericaceous plants and which often dominate in heathlands, have been proposed as drivers of soil organic carbon storage through their production of recalcitrant melanized hyphae, which are resistant to decomposition. The recalcitrant litter of ericaceous plants has also been proposed as the major driver of carbon storage in heathlands. On the other hand ectomycorrhizae, which often dominate in forests, are associated with increased decomposition through their acquisition of nutrients for their plant symbionts.... (More)
- Heathlands have been identified as ecosystems which store large amounts of carbon, especially in soil, which is very important for climate change mitigation. Ericoid mycorrhizae, which are the symbiosis between mycorrhizal fungi and ericaceous plants and which often dominate in heathlands, have been proposed as drivers of soil organic carbon storage through their production of recalcitrant melanized hyphae, which are resistant to decomposition. The recalcitrant litter of ericaceous plants has also been proposed as the major driver of carbon storage in heathlands. On the other hand ectomycorrhizae, which often dominate in forests, are associated with increased decomposition through their acquisition of nutrients for their plant symbionts. These specific dynamics in a forest-heathland gradient have only been studied in the boreal zone previously. This study was conducted in a temperate region, in order to investigate whether this relationship exists in a warmer climate, as warmer temperatures can increase micro (Less)
- Popular Abstract
- Soil Carbon Storage in Temperate Heathland and Forest
Soils constitute the largest pool of stored carbon (C) on the planet. This is of vital importance when considering the elevated CO2 in the atmosphere from human activities and our increasing need for effective climate change mitigation strategies. Understanding the processes that lead to increased C storage in soils can help us to develop land management strategies that maintain or even increase CO2 absorption. After CO2 from the atmosphere is absorbed by plants, via photosynthesis, C enters the soil through leaves and other organic matter that is derived from the surrounding vegetation. Plants also have symbioses with fungi, called mycorrhizal fungi, which colonize their roots and... (More) - Soil Carbon Storage in Temperate Heathland and Forest
Soils constitute the largest pool of stored carbon (C) on the planet. This is of vital importance when considering the elevated CO2 in the atmosphere from human activities and our increasing need for effective climate change mitigation strategies. Understanding the processes that lead to increased C storage in soils can help us to develop land management strategies that maintain or even increase CO2 absorption. After CO2 from the atmosphere is absorbed by plants, via photosynthesis, C enters the soil through leaves and other organic matter that is derived from the surrounding vegetation. Plants also have symbioses with fungi, called mycorrhizal fungi, which colonize their roots and share nutrients back and forth. C can also enter the soil through this nutrient exchange. There are soil organisms that feed on the organic matter, which holds most of the soil C. These organisms are called saprotrophs and are made up of fungus and bacteria. The ease with whic (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
http://lup.lub.lu.se/student-papers/record/9175976
- author
- Thölin Chittenden, Sarah
- supervisor
- organization
- course
- BION02 20232
- year
- 2024
- type
- H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
- subject
- language
- English
- id
- 9175976
- date added to LUP
- 2024-10-03 12:51:24
- date last changed
- 2024-10-03 12:51:24
@misc{9175976,
abstract = {{Heathlands have been identified as ecosystems which store large amounts of carbon, especially in soil, which is very important for climate change mitigation. Ericoid mycorrhizae, which are the symbiosis between mycorrhizal fungi and ericaceous plants and which often dominate in heathlands, have been proposed as drivers of soil organic carbon storage through their production of recalcitrant melanized hyphae, which are resistant to decomposition. The recalcitrant litter of ericaceous plants has also been proposed as the major driver of carbon storage in heathlands. On the other hand ectomycorrhizae, which often dominate in forests, are associated with increased decomposition through their acquisition of nutrients for their plant symbionts. These specific dynamics in a forest-heathland gradient have only been studied in the boreal zone previously. This study was conducted in a temperate region, in order to investigate whether this relationship exists in a warmer climate, as warmer temperatures can increase micro}},
author = {{Thölin Chittenden, Sarah}},
language = {{eng}},
note = {{Student Paper}},
title = {{Soil Carbon Storage in Temperate Heathland and Forest: What Role Do Ericoid Mycorrhizae Play?}},
year = {{2024}},
}