Chronic nitrogen additions fundamentally restructure the soil fungal community in a temperate forest. (October 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Morrison, Eric W.; Frey, Serita D.; Sadowsky, Jesse J.; van Diepen, Linda T.A.; Thomas, W. Kelley; Pringle, Anne
• Is Part Of: Fungal ecology. Volume 23(2016:Oct.)
• Page Start: 48
• Page End: 57
• Publication Date: 2016-10
• Subjects: Ascomycetes -- Basidiomycetes -- Community -- Diversity -- DNA barcoding -- Nitrogen deposition -- Soil fungi; Fungi -- Ecology -- Periodicals; Mycology -- Periodicals; 579.517
• DOI: 10.1016/j.funeco.2016.05.011
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1754-5048

Abstract

Abstract: Fungi dominate the microbial biomass of temperate forest soils and are a key driver of ecosystem nutrient cycling. Chronic nitrogen (N) amendments frequently cause the accumulation of soil organic matter within soils, suggesting that elevated N disrupts decomposition by altering fungal communities. To link previously observed increases in soil organic matter with potential changes in the fungal community, we assessed the effects of soil N amendment on fungal community structure at a long-term N addition experiment at Harvard Forest (Petersham, MA, USA). A decline in the relative abundance of ectomycorrhizal fungi following long-term N addition was offset by an increase in the relative abundance of saprotrophs. Species richness and diversity of ectomycorrhizal fungi declined, while ascomycetes and saprotrophs responded positively to N enrichment. However, nitrophilic species included ectomycorrhizal as well as saprotrophic fungi, especially the ectomycorrhizal Russula vinacea, whose relative abundance increased from 10 to 37% of the entire community across N treatments. Two decades of soil N enrichment appears to have fundamentally altered the soil fungal community of this temperate forest.