Ectomycorrhizal fungi and the nitrogen economy of Nothofagus in southern Patagonia

Abstract Subantarctic Nothofagus forests are the southernmost forests in the world, with negligible atmospheric nitrogen (N) deposition. Most paradigms about the role of ectomycorrhizal (ECM) fungi in N cycling and plant N uptake at high latitudes have been tested in boreal coniferous forests, while...

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Main Authors: Camille Truong, Luciano A. Gabbarini, Alicia Moretto, Julio M. Escobar, Matthew E. Smith
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2024-10-01
Series:Ecology and Evolution
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.70299
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author Camille Truong
Luciano A. Gabbarini
Alicia Moretto
Julio M. Escobar
Matthew E. Smith
author_facet Camille Truong
Luciano A. Gabbarini
Alicia Moretto
Julio M. Escobar
Matthew E. Smith
author_sort Camille Truong
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Subantarctic Nothofagus forests are the southernmost forests in the world, with negligible atmospheric nitrogen (N) deposition. Most paradigms about the role of ectomycorrhizal (ECM) fungi in N cycling and plant N uptake at high latitudes have been tested in boreal coniferous forests, while in the southern hemisphere, ECM hosts are primarily angiosperms. Using ITS1 meta‐barcoding, we characterized ECM and saprotrophic fungal communities in evergreen and deciduous Nothofagus forests forming monodominant and mixed stands in the archipelago of Tierra del Fuego (Chile and Argentina). We assessed the N economy of Nothofagus by correlating host species with fungal relative abundances, edaphic variables, net N mineralization, microbial biomass N and the activity of eight extracellular soil enzymes activities. The N economy of deciduous N. pumilio forests was strikingly similar to boreal coniferous forests, with the lowest inorganic N availability and net N mineralization, in correlation to higher relative abundances of ECM fungi with enzymatic capacity for organic N mobilization (genus Cortinarius). In contrast, the N economy of evergreen N. betuloides forests was predominantly inorganic and correlated with ECM lineages from the family Clavulinaceae, in acidic soils with poor drainage. Grassy understory vegetation in deciduous N. antarctica forests likely promoted saprotrophic fungi (i.e., genus Mortierella) in correlation with higher activities of carbon‐degrading enzymes. Differences between Nothofagus hosts did not persist in mixed forests, illustrating the range of soil fertility of these ECM angiosperms and the underlying effects of soil and climate on Nothofagus distribution and N cycling in southern Patagonia.
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spelling doaj-art-af4a41cbbc7e416aa4dd5ac6b6e997eb2024-12-20T09:05:58ZengWileyEcology and Evolution2045-77582024-10-011410n/an/a10.1002/ece3.70299Ectomycorrhizal fungi and the nitrogen economy of Nothofagus in southern PatagoniaCamille Truong0Luciano A. Gabbarini1Alicia Moretto2Julio M. Escobar3Matthew E. Smith4Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria Melbourne Victoria AustraliaDepartamento de Ciencia y Tecnología, Centro de Bioquímica y Microbiología de Suelos Universidad Nacional de Quilmes Bernal ArgentinaUniversidad Nacional de Tierra del Fuego, Instituto de Ciencias Polares, Recursos Naturales y Ambiente Ushuaia ArgentinaCentro Austral de Investigaciones Científicas (CONICET) Ushuaia ArgentinaDepartment of Plant Pathology University of Florida Gainesville Florida USAAbstract Subantarctic Nothofagus forests are the southernmost forests in the world, with negligible atmospheric nitrogen (N) deposition. Most paradigms about the role of ectomycorrhizal (ECM) fungi in N cycling and plant N uptake at high latitudes have been tested in boreal coniferous forests, while in the southern hemisphere, ECM hosts are primarily angiosperms. Using ITS1 meta‐barcoding, we characterized ECM and saprotrophic fungal communities in evergreen and deciduous Nothofagus forests forming monodominant and mixed stands in the archipelago of Tierra del Fuego (Chile and Argentina). We assessed the N economy of Nothofagus by correlating host species with fungal relative abundances, edaphic variables, net N mineralization, microbial biomass N and the activity of eight extracellular soil enzymes activities. The N economy of deciduous N. pumilio forests was strikingly similar to boreal coniferous forests, with the lowest inorganic N availability and net N mineralization, in correlation to higher relative abundances of ECM fungi with enzymatic capacity for organic N mobilization (genus Cortinarius). In contrast, the N economy of evergreen N. betuloides forests was predominantly inorganic and correlated with ECM lineages from the family Clavulinaceae, in acidic soils with poor drainage. Grassy understory vegetation in deciduous N. antarctica forests likely promoted saprotrophic fungi (i.e., genus Mortierella) in correlation with higher activities of carbon‐degrading enzymes. Differences between Nothofagus hosts did not persist in mixed forests, illustrating the range of soil fertility of these ECM angiosperms and the underlying effects of soil and climate on Nothofagus distribution and N cycling in southern Patagonia.https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.70299leaf phenologymycorrhizal associationsNothofagaceaenutrient cyclingsoil fertilitysouthern hemisphere
spellingShingle Camille Truong
Luciano A. Gabbarini
Alicia Moretto
Julio M. Escobar
Matthew E. Smith
Ectomycorrhizal fungi and the nitrogen economy of Nothofagus in southern Patagonia
Ecology and Evolution
leaf phenology
mycorrhizal associations
Nothofagaceae
nutrient cycling
soil fertility
southern hemisphere
title Ectomycorrhizal fungi and the nitrogen economy of Nothofagus in southern Patagonia
title_full Ectomycorrhizal fungi and the nitrogen economy of Nothofagus in southern Patagonia
title_fullStr Ectomycorrhizal fungi and the nitrogen economy of Nothofagus in southern Patagonia
title_full_unstemmed Ectomycorrhizal fungi and the nitrogen economy of Nothofagus in southern Patagonia
title_short Ectomycorrhizal fungi and the nitrogen economy of Nothofagus in southern Patagonia
title_sort ectomycorrhizal fungi and the nitrogen economy of nothofagus in southern patagonia
topic leaf phenology
mycorrhizal associations
Nothofagaceae
nutrient cycling
soil fertility
southern hemisphere
url https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.70299
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