title: Mycorrhizas and soil ecosystem function of co-existing woody vegetation islands at the alpine tree line.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Picea abies,Pinus mugoandRhododendron ferrugineumco-exist at the alpine tree line, and can have different mycorrhizal communities. The activity and diversity of mycorrhizal fungi are considered to be important factors in regulation of soil function.
  
  
  METHODS
  At a tree line site and a lower elevation site in the Austrian Alps, the community structure of ectomycorrhiza onPicea abiesandPinus mugowas determined. The activity of surface enzymes was determined on ectomycorrhizal and ericoid mycorrhizal roots. In soils, the activity of a range of enzymes, nitrogen (N) mineralization and biomass decomposition were determined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The community structure of the ectomycorrhizal community ofPicea abiesandPinus mugodiffered strongly, but the average activity of surface enzymes of the ectomycorrhizal communities was similar. A lower root surface enzyme activity was determined onRhododendron ferrugineum. Soil N-mineralization underRhododendron ferrugineumwas significantly lower than underPicea abiesandPinus mugo. In soil, the activity of a range of enzymes did not differ at the tree line but differed between the tree line and the lower elevation sites.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The different ectomycorrhizal communities onPicea abiesandPinus mugoand ericoid mycorrhizas onRhododendron ferrugineumsupport similar ecosystem functions in soil.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Forest Ecology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna (BOKU), Peter-Jordan-Straße 82, 1190 Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Lixia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Ecology, Mongolian University of Life Science, Zaisan, Mailbox 57, Khan-Uul district, Ulaanbaator 17024 Mongolia.
authors.forename: Burenjargal
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Otgonsuren
authors.affiliation: Institute of Forest Ecology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna (BOKU), Peter-Jordan-Straße 82, 1190 Vienna, Austria.|Department of Landscape Carbon Deposition, Global Change Research Institute, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Na Sádkách 7, 370 05 Ceské Budejovice, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Douglas L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Godbold
keywords: Ectoenzymes; Ectomycorrhizas; Enzyme activity; Ericoid mycorrhizas; Nitrogen-mineralization