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Differences in nitrogen redistribution between early and late plant colonizers through ectomycorrhizal fungi on the volcano Mount Koma
Author(s) -
Kwon TaeOh,
Tsuyuzaki Shiro
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
ecological research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.628
H-Index - 68
eISSN - 1440-1703
pISSN - 0912-3814
DOI - 10.1007/s11284-016-1364-9
Subject(s) - willow , larch , biology , botany , larix kaempferi , chronosequence , tephra , volcano , ecological succession , paleontology
Relationships involving the transfer of nitrogen (N) among Salix reinii (willow), Larix kaempferi (larch), and mycorrhizal fungi were investigated in a ridge and hillslope on the volcano Mount Koma in northern Japan using a two‐pool fungal model. This model estimated N transfer among the examined taxa by measuring changes in the stable isotope ratio of N (δ 15 N). Although N content in tephra was low at both sites, it was higher on the ridge than on the hillslope, and higher in the willow patch than on bare ground or in the larch understory. The non‐mycorrhizal sedge ( Carex oxyandra ) exhibited non‐significant differences between the two sites regarding δ 15 N for N obtained from tephra. Larches developed a relationship with larch‐specific Suillus mycorrhizal fungal species in the roots, and had a lower foliar δ 15 N on the hillslope than on the ridge. The larch δ 15 N increased during the growing season, while the willow δ 15 N remained stable. The dependence of larch on mycorrhizal fungi for N uptake was 3–5 % on the ridge and 56–76 % on the hillslope in autumn. Therefore, larches exhibited a flexible symbiotic relationship with mycorrhizal fungi for obtaining N. Over 45 % of the N taken up by willow plants was obtained from mycorrhizal fungi at both sites. In conclusion, willow plants promoted N deposition in tephra through the litter supply, and formed a stable relationship with mycorrhizal fungi. This enabled successful revegetation with larch plants, which exhibited flexibility in terms of N uptake (i.e., dependent on mycorrhizae or from tephra).