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Ericoid shrubs shape fungal communities and suppress organic matter decomposition in boreal forests
Author(s) -
Fanin Nicolas,
Clemmensen Karina E.,
Lindahl Björn D.,
Farrell Mark,
Nilsson MarieCharlotte,
Gundale Michael J.,
Kardol Paul,
Wardle David A.
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
new phytologist
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.742
H-Index - 244
eISSN - 1469-8137
pISSN - 0028-646X
DOI - 10.1111/nph.18353
Subject(s) - chronosequence , boreal , taiga , organic matter , botany , decomposer , ecology , biology , litter , ecological succession , ecosystem
SummaryMycorrhizal fungi associated with boreal trees and ericaceous shrubs are central actors in organic matter (OM) accumulation through their belowground carbon allocation, their potential capacity to mine organic matter for nitrogen (N) and their ability to suppress saprotrophs. Yet, interactions between co‐occurring ectomycorrhizal fungi (EMF), ericoid mycorrhizal fungi (ERI), and saprotrophs are poorly understood. We used a long‐term (19 yr) plant functional group manipulation experiment with removals of tree roots, ericaceous shrubs and mosses and analysed the responses of different fungal guilds (assessed by metabarcoding) and their interactions in relation to OM quality (assessed by mid‐infrared spectroscopy and nuclear magnetic resonance) and decomposition (litter mesh‐bags) across a 5000‐yr post‐fire boreal forest chronosequence. We found that the removal of ericaceous shrubs and associated ERI changed the composition of EMF communities, with larger effects occurring at earlier stages of the chronosequence. Removal of shrubs was associated with enhanced N availability, litter decomposition and enrichment of the recalcitrant OM fraction. We conclude that increasing abundance of slow‐growing ericaceous shrubs and the associated fungi contributes to increasing nutrient limitation, impaired decomposition and progressive OM accumulation in boreal forests, particularly towards later successional stages. These results are indicative of the contrasting roles of EMF and ERI in regulating belowground OM storage.