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Spatial separation of litter decomposition and mycorrhizal nitrogen uptake in a boreal forest
Author(s) -
Lindahl Björn D.,
Ihrmark Katarina,
Boberg Johanna,
Trumbore Susan E.,
Högberg Peter,
Stenlid Jan,
Finlay Roger D.
Publication year - 2007
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/j.1469-8137.2006.01936.x
Subject(s) - humus , biogeochemical cycle , litter , nutrient cycle , organic matter , nutrient , nitrogen cycle , forest floor , ecosystem , taiga , environmental science , plant litter , nitrogen , soil organic matter , ectomycorrhiza , ecology , biology , mycorrhiza , chemistry , soil water , symbiosis , organic chemistry , genetics , bacteria
Summary• Our understanding of how saprotrophic and mycorrhizal fungi interact to re‐circulate carbon and nutrients from plant litter and soil organic matter is limited by poor understanding of their spatiotemporal dynamics. • In order to investigate how different functional groups of fungi contribute to carbon and nitrogen cycling at different stages of decomposition, we studied changes in fungal community composition along vertical profiles through a Pinus sylvestris forest soil. We combined molecular identification methods with 14 C dating of the organic matter, analyses of carbon:nitrogen (C:N) ratios and 15 N natural abundance measurements. • Saprotrophic fungi were primarily confined to relatively recently (< 4 yr) shed litter components on the surface of the forest floor, where organic carbon was mineralized while nitrogen was retained. Mycorrhizal fungi dominated in the underlying, more decomposed litter and humus, where they apparently mobilized N and made it available to their host plants. • Our observations show that the degrading and nutrient‐mobilizing components of the fungal community are spatially separated. This has important implications for biogeochemical studies of boreal forest ecosystems.