Production of ectomycorrhizal mycelium peaks during canopy closure in Norway spruce forests.
*Here, species composition and biomass production of actively growing ectomycorrhizal (EM) mycelia were studied over the rotation period of managed Norway spruce (Picea abies) stands in south-western Sweden. *The EM mycelia were collected using ingrowth mesh bags incubated in the forest soil during one growing season. Fungal biomass was estimated by ergosterol analysis and the EM species were identified by 454 sequencing of internal transcribed spacer (ITS) amplicons. Nutrient availability and the fungal biomass in soil samples were also estimated. *Biomass production peaked in young stands (10-30 yr old) before the first thinning phase. Tylospora fibrillosa dominated the EM community, especially in these young stands, where it constituted 80% of the EM amplicons derived from the mesh bags. Species richness increased in older stands. *The establishment of EM mycelial networks in young Norway spruce stands requires large amounts of carbon, while much less is needed to sustain the EM community in older stands. The variation in EM biomass production over the rotation period has implications for carbon sequestration rates in forest soils.
Wallander
Håkan
H
Department of Microbial Ecology, Lund University, SE-223 62 Lund, Sweden.
Johansson
Ulf
U
Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Tönnersjöheden Experimental Forest, PO Box 17, SE-31038 Simlångsdalen, Sweden.
Sterkenburg
Erica
E
Department of Forest Mycology and Pathology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences PO Box 7026, SE-750 07 Uppsala, Sweden.
Brandström Durling
Mikael
M
Department of Forest Mycology and Pathology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences PO Box 7026, SE-750 07 Uppsala, Sweden.
Lindahl
Björn D
BD
Department of Forest Mycology and Pathology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences PO Box 7026, SE-750 07 Uppsala, Sweden.
D001483:Base Sequence; D044822:Biodiversity; D018533:Biomass; D002244:Carbon / Q000502:physiology*; D004875:Ergosterol / Q000032:analysis; D005658:Fungi / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D008027:Light; D025282:Mycelium / Q000254:growth & development*; D038821:Mycorrhizae / Q000254:growth & development*; D010788:Photosynthesis; D028222:Picea / Q000502:physiology*; D018515:Plant Leaves; D012621:Seasons; D012987:Soil; D014197:Trees / Q000502:physiology*
D012987:Soil; D002244:Carbon; D004875:Ergosterol