Wide geographical and ecological distribution of nitrogen and carbon gains from fungi in pyroloids and monotropoids (Ericaceae) and in orchids.
* Stable isotope abundance analyses recently revealed that some European green orchids and pyroloids (Ericaceae) are partially myco-heterotrophic, exploiting mycorrhizal fungi for organic carbon and nitrogen. Here we investigate related species to assess their nutritional mode across various forest and climate types in Germany and California. * C- and N-isotope signatures of five green pyroloids, three green orchids and several obligate myco-heterotrophic species (including the putatively fully myco-heterotrophic Pyrola aphylla) were analysed to quantify the green plants' nutrient gain from their fungal partners and to investigate the constancy of enrichment in (13)C and (15)N of fully myco-heterotrophic plants from diverse taxa and locations relative to neighbouring autotrophic plants. * All green pyroloid and one orchid species showed significant (15)N enrichment, confirming incorporation of fungi-derived N compounds while heterotrophic C gain was detected only under low irradiance in Orthilia secunda. Pyrola aphylla had an isotope signature equivalent to those of fully myco-heterotrophic plants. * It is demonstrated that primarily N gain from mycorrhizal fungi occurred in all taxonomic groups investigated across a wide range of geographical and ecological contexts. The (13)C and (15)N enrichment of obligate myco-heterotrophic plants relative to accompanying autotrophic plants turned out as a fairly constant parameter.
Zimmer
Katja
K
Labor für Isotopen-Biogeochemie, Bayreuth Center of Ecology and Environmental Research, Universität Bayreuth, 95440 Bayreuth, Germany.
Hynson
Nicole A
NA
Department of Environmental Science, Policy and Management, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720-3102, USA.
Gebauer
Gerhard
G
Labor für Isotopen-Biogeochemie, Bayreuth Center of Ecology and Environmental Research, Universität Bayreuth, 95440 Bayreuth, Germany.
Allen
Edith B
EB
Department of Botany and Plant Sciences and Center for Conservation Biology, University of California, Riverside, CA 92521-0124, USA.
Allen
Michael F
MF
Center for Conservation Biology, University of California, Riverside, CA 92521-0334, USA.
Read
David J
DJ
Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, University of Sheffield, Sheffield S10 2TN, UK.
D018943:Anthracyclines; D002244:Carbon / Q000378:metabolism*; D004463:Ecology; D029791:Ericaceae / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000382:microbiology; D005658:Fungi / Q000378:metabolism*; D005843:Geography; D005858:Germany; D038821:Mycorrhizae / Q000378:metabolism*; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000378:metabolism*; D029595:Orchidaceae / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000382:microbiology; D013045:Species Specificity
D018943:Anthracyclines; C111770:ericamycin; D002244:Carbon; D009584:Nitrogen