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Diversity and persistence of arbuscular mycorrhizas in a low‐Arctic meadow habitat
Author(s) -
Pietikäinen Anne,
Kytöviita MinnaMaarit,
Husband Rebecca,
Young J Peter W.
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.1469-8137.2007.02209.x
Subject(s) - biology , ecology , arctic , plant community , vegetation (pathology) , habitat , ecosystem , species diversity , monoculture , arctic vegetation , botany , ecological succession , tundra , medicine , pathology
Summary• Little is known about the ecology and diversity of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi in Arctic ecosystems. Here, the diversity and composition of the AM fungal community and its response to host plant community composition were studied in a low‐Arctic meadow habitat. • The natural vegetation in two low‐Arctic meadow sites was manipulated. Plots with natural vegetation, monoculture and no vegetation were established. Seeds of Solidago virgaurea were sown into the plots and the AM fungal community in the seedling roots was analysed using the terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism (T‐RFLP) method. • The vegetation manipulation treatments affected the community composition but not the diversity of AM fungi found in S. virgaurea roots. The diversity of AM fungi was higher in S. virgaurea roots in the site with naturally higher plant species diversity. • These results show that AM fungi in low‐Arctic meadows are able to survive for a period of 2 yr without a host plant. This ability buffers the AM fungal community against short‐term changes in host plant community composition and diversity.