Opposing effects of nitrogen versus phosphorus additions on mycorrhizal fungal abundance along an elevational gradient in tropical montane forests

Studies in temperate systems provide evidence that the abundance of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal (AMF) depends on soil nutrient availability, which is mainly explained in the context of resource stoichiometry and differential plant biomass allocation. We applied this concept to an understudied ecos...

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Authors: Homeier, J., Camenzind, T., Suarez Chacon, J.
Format: article
Status:Published version
Publication Date:2015
Country:Ecuador
Institution:Universidad Técnica Particular de Loja
Repository:Repositorio Universidad Técnica Particular de Loja
OAI Identifier:oai:dspace.utpl.edu.ec:123456789/18920
Online Access:http://dspace.utpl.edu.ec/handle/123456789/18920
Access Level:Open access
Keyword:Altitudinal gradient
Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi
Root length
Southern Ecuador
Tropical montane forest
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oai_identifier_str oai:dspace.utpl.edu.ec:123456789/18920
network_acronym_str EC
network_name_str Ecuador
spelling Opposing effects of nitrogen versus phosphorus additions on mycorrhizal fungal abundance along an elevational gradient in tropical montane forests Homeier, J. Camenzind, T. Suarez Chacon, J. Altitudinal gradient Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi Root length Southern Ecuador Tropical montane forest Studies in temperate systems provide evidence that the abundance of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal (AMF) depends on soil nutrient availability, which is mainly explained in the context of resource stoichiometry and differential plant biomass allocation. We applied this concept to an understudied ecosystem - tropical montane forest - analyzing root and AMF abundance along an elevational gradient with decreasing nutrient availability, combined with responses to nitrogen (N) versus phosphorus (P) additions. At three sites from 1000 to 3000 m above sea-level we analyzed fine root length, AMF root colonization as well as extraradical AMF biomass (neutral lipid fatty acid 16:1?5, hyphal length and spore counts) in a nutrient manipulation experiment. We found a significant increase in root length as well as intra- and extraradical AMF abundance with elevation. Overall, P additions significantly increased, whereas N additions decreased AMF abundance, with differential though nonsystematic changes along the elevational gradient. Strongest effects were clearly observed at the intermediate site. These findings suggest a general dependency of roots and AMF on nutrient availability, though responses to N and P additions differed from previous studies in temperate systems. In the context of future nutrient depositions, results suggest diverging responses of AMF abundance depending on site characteristics. Soil Biology and Biochemistry 10.1016/j.soilbio.2015.11.011 380717 http://dspace.utpl.edu.ec/handle/123456789/18920
title Opposing effects of nitrogen versus phosphorus additions on mycorrhizal fungal abundance along an elevational gradient in tropical montane forests
spellingShingle Opposing effects of nitrogen versus phosphorus additions on mycorrhizal fungal abundance along an elevational gradient in tropical montane forests
Homeier, J.
Altitudinal gradient
Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi
Root length
Southern Ecuador
Tropical montane forest
title_short Opposing effects of nitrogen versus phosphorus additions on mycorrhizal fungal abundance along an elevational gradient in tropical montane forests
title_full Opposing effects of nitrogen versus phosphorus additions on mycorrhizal fungal abundance along an elevational gradient in tropical montane forests
title_fullStr Opposing effects of nitrogen versus phosphorus additions on mycorrhizal fungal abundance along an elevational gradient in tropical montane forests
title_full_unstemmed Opposing effects of nitrogen versus phosphorus additions on mycorrhizal fungal abundance along an elevational gradient in tropical montane forests
title_sort Opposing effects of nitrogen versus phosphorus additions on mycorrhizal fungal abundance along an elevational gradient in tropical montane forests
author Homeier, J.
author_facet Homeier, J.
Camenzind, T.
Suarez Chacon, J.
author_role author
author2 Camenzind, T.
Suarez Chacon, J.
author2_role author
author
topic Altitudinal gradient
Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi
Root length
Southern Ecuador
Tropical montane forest
topic_facet Altitudinal gradient
Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi
Root length
Southern Ecuador
Tropical montane forest
description Studies in temperate systems provide evidence that the abundance of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal (AMF) depends on soil nutrient availability, which is mainly explained in the context of resource stoichiometry and differential plant biomass allocation. We applied this concept to an understudied ecosystem - tropical montane forest - analyzing root and AMF abundance along an elevational gradient with decreasing nutrient availability, combined with responses to nitrogen (N) versus phosphorus (P) additions. At three sites from 1000 to 3000 m above sea-level we analyzed fine root length, AMF root colonization as well as extraradical AMF biomass (neutral lipid fatty acid 16:1?5, hyphal length and spore counts) in a nutrient manipulation experiment. We found a significant increase in root length as well as intra- and extraradical AMF abundance with elevation. Overall, P additions significantly increased, whereas N additions decreased AMF abundance, with differential though nonsystematic changes along the elevational gradient. Strongest effects were clearly observed at the intermediate site. These findings suggest a general dependency of roots and AMF on nutrient availability, though responses to N and P additions differed from previous studies in temperate systems. In the context of future nutrient depositions, results suggest diverging responses of AMF abundance depending on site characteristics.
publishDate 2015
format article
status_str publishedVersion
url http://dspace.utpl.edu.ec/handle/123456789/18920
identifier_str_mv 10.1016/j.soilbio.2015.11.011
380717
eu_rights_str_mv openAccess
publisher Soil Biology and Biochemistry
institution UTPL
collection Repositorio Universidad Técnica Particular de Loja
reponame_str Repositorio Universidad Técnica Particular de Loja
instname_str Universidad Técnica Particular de Loja
_version_ 1878406761960964096
publishDateSort 2015
author_browse Camenzind, T.
Homeier, J.
Suarez Chacon, J.
publisherStr Soil Biology and Biochemistry
score 6,9303427

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