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Changes in fungal communities along a boreal forest soil fertility gradient
Author(s) -
Sterkenburg Erica,
Bahr Adam,
Brandström Durling Mikael,
Clemmensen Karina E.,
Lindahl Björn D.
Publication year - 2015
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.13426
Subject(s) - humus , biology , taiga , litter , soil fertility , abundance (ecology) , ecology , ectomycorrhiza , biomass (ecology) , boreal , picea abies , plant community , plant litter , agronomy , botany , nutrient , soil water , mycorrhiza , ecological succession , genetics , symbiosis , bacteria
Summary Boreal forests harbour diverse fungal communities with decisive roles in decomposition and plant nutrition. Although changes in boreal plant communities along gradients in soil acidity and nitrogen (N) availability are well described, less is known about how fungal taxonomic and functional groups respond to soil fertility factors. We analysed fungal communities in humus and litter from 25 Swedish old‐growth forests, ranging from N‐rich Picea abies stands to acidic and N‐poor Pinus sylvestris stands. 454‐pyrosequencing of ITS 2 amplicons was used to analyse community composition, and biomass was estimated by ergosterol analysis. Fungal community composition was significantly related to soil fertility at the levels of species, genera/orders and functional groups. Ascomycetes dominated in less fertile forests, whereas basidiomycetes increased in abundance in more fertile forests, both in litter and humus. The relative abundance of mycorrhizal fungi in the humus layer remained high even in the most fertile soils. Tolerance to acidity and nitrogen deficiency seems to be of greater importance than plant carbon (C) allocation patterns in determining responses of fungal communities to soil fertility, in old‐growth boreal forests.