Lilleskov, Erik A.;
Wargo, Philip M.;
Vogt, Kristiina A.;
Vogt, Daniel J.
Mycorrhizal fungal community relationship to root nitrogen concentration over a regional atmospheric nitrogen deposition gradient in the northeastern USA
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Media type:
E-Article
Title:
Mycorrhizal fungal community relationship to root nitrogen concentration over a regional atmospheric nitrogen deposition gradient in the northeastern USA
Contributor:
Lilleskov, Erik A.;
Wargo, Philip M.;
Vogt, Kristiina A.;
Vogt, Daniel J.
Published:
Canadian Science Publishing, 2008
Published in:
Canadian Journal of Forest Research, 38 (2008) 5, Seite 1260-1266
Language:
English
DOI:
10.1139/x07-211
ISSN:
0045-5067;
1208-6037
Origination:
Footnote:
Description:
Increased nitrogen (N) input has been found to alter ectomycorrhizal fungal communities over short deposition gradients and in fertilization experiments; however, its effects over larger spatial scales have not been determined. To address this gap, we reanalyzed data from a study originally designed to examine the effects of soil aluminum/calcium (Al/Ca) ratios on the vitality of red spruce fine roots over a regional acid and N deposition gradient in the northeastern USA. We used root N as an indicator of stand N availability and examined its relationship with the abundance of ectomycorrhizal morphotypes. The dominant morphotypes changed in relative abundance as a function of stand N availability. As root N concentrations increased, Piloderma spp. - like, Cenococcum geophilum Fr., and other unidentified mycorrhizal morphotypes declined in abundance, while other smooth-mantled morphotypes increased. Root N concentration in the 1–2 mm diameter class was the best predictor of the abundance of multiple morphotypes. The morphotype responses were consistent with those found in experimental and small-scale studies, suggesting that N availability is altering ectomycorrhizal communities over broad spatial scales in this region. This finding provides an impetus to conduct a more detailed characterization of mycorrhizal community responses to N deposition across large-scale gradients.