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Arbuscular mycorrhizal mycelial respiration in a moist tropical forest
Author(s) -
Nottingham Andrew T.,
Turner Benjamin L.,
Winter Klaus,
van der Heijden Marcel G. A.,
Tanner Edmund V. J.
Publication year - 2010
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.1469-8137.2010.03226.x
Subject(s) - evergreen , respiration , soil respiration , mycelium , biology , carbon cycle , carbon sink , botany , ecosystem , mycorrhiza , agronomy , environmental science , ecology , symbiosis , genetics , bacteria
Summary• Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are widespread in tropical forests and represent a major sink of photosynthate, yet their contribution to soil respiration in such ecosystems remains unknown. • Using in‐growth mesocosms we measured AMF mycelial respiration in two separate experiments: (1) an experiment in a semi‐evergreen moist tropical forest, and (2) an experiment with 6‐m‐tall Pseudobombax septenatum in 4.5‐m 3 containers, for which we also determined the dependence of AMF mycelial respiration on the supply of carbon from the plant using girdling and root‐cutting treatments. • In the forest, AMF mycelia respired carbon at a rate of 1.4 t ha −1 yr −1 , which accounted for 14 ± 6% of total soil respiration and 26 ± 12% of root‐derived respiration. For P. septenatum, 40 ± 6% of root‐derived respiration originated from AMF mycelia and carbon was respired < 4 h after its supply from roots. • We conclude that arbuscular mycorrhizal mycelial respiration can be substantial in lowland tropical forests. As it is highly dependent on the recent supply of carbon from roots, a function of aboveground fixation, AMF mycelial respiration is therefore an important pathway of carbon flux from tropical forest trees to the atmosphere.