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Figure: The photo shows a close-up of moss and two mushrooms in a forest, with logs of dead wood in the background

Ectomycorrhizal fungi (ECM) are a key group facilitating nutrients flow in forest ecosystems. Their tight association with the tree roots represents an important link between above- and belowground biomes. The project ECTOMYC addresses species richness and ecosystem functions of ECM assemblages in response to forest management. We identified soil pH, forest management intensity, tree species and root nutrient contents as important drivers of the structure of root-associated fungal communities. Using stable isotopes (15NO3-15NH4+), we found that different ectomycorrhizal fungal species differed strongly in nitrogen enrichment, suggesting large differences in substrate use. Furthermore, we showed a strong impact of nitrogen concertation on the assemblages of root associated ECM, as well as saprotrophic and pathotrophic fungal communities within the exploratories. These results suggest that fungal traits for nutrient use contribute to ecosystem dynamics.


Experimental approaches to obtain information on substrate preferences of ectomycorrhizal fungi under field conditions are scarce.  Based on the results of the previous phases, the specific aims of this project are:

  1. To dissect temporal and spatial turnover of root-associated fungal assemblages according to ecological groups (symbiotroph, saprotroph, pathotroph) and their main drivers (land use, climate, abiotic soil conditions, and root nutrients)
  2. To examine fungal traits for nutrient use by bait experiments
  3. To establish causal relationships between forest management measures (tree cutting and gap formation) between the function and composition of root-associated fungi and root nutrient physiology

To achieve these goals, we will sample roots in 150 forest plots of the Biodiversity Exploratories and use the results from 2014, 2017 and 2020 to analyse spatiotemporal variation of fungi on roots. In bait experiments, mesh containers accessible for fungal hyphae, will be supplemented with substrates and the colonising fungal community will be studied. Tree cutting affects carbon allocation to the soil. We will use the new forest experiment (tree cutting) to examine the impact of changes in root carbon physiology on the structure of associated ectomycorrhizal, saprotrophic and other fungal groups and the feedback for tree mineral nutrition. These results will contribute towards to increasing our understanding of ecosystem functioning.


Doc
Brandt L., Poll C., Ballauff J., Schrumpf M., Bramble D. S., Schöning I., Ulrich S., Kaiser K., Mikutta R., Mikutta C., Polle A., Kandeler E. (2024): Mineral type versus environmental filters: What shapes the composition and functions of fungal communities in the mineralosphere of forest soils? Soil Biology and Biochemistry 190: 109288. doi: 10.1016/j.soilbio.2023.109288
More information:  doi.org
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Khokon A. M., Janz D., Polle A. (2023): Ectomycorrhizal diversity, taxon-specific traits and root N uptake in temperate beech forests. New Phytologist 239 (2), 739-751. doi: 10.1111/nph.18978
More information:  doi.org
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Guerreiro M. A., Kleetz J., Torres M. R., Polle A., Peršoh D., Begerow D. (2022): Interaction between growth environment and host progeny shape fungal endophytic assemblages in transplanted Fagus sylvatica. Fungal Ecology 60, 101175. doi: 10.1016/j.funeco.2022.101175
More information:  doi.org
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Khokon A. M., Schneider D., Daniel R., Polle A. (2021): Soil Layers Matter: Vertical Stratification of Root-Associated Fungal Assemblages in Temperate Forests Reveals Differences in Habitat Colonization. Microorganisms 9 (10), 2131. doi: 10.3390/microorganisms9102131
More information:  doi.org
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Khokon A. M. (2021): Assembly of root-associated fungi in different soil layers and nitrogen uptake by ectomycorrhizae in temperate forests. Dissertation, University Göttingen
More information:  dx.doi.org
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Nguyen D. Q., Schneider D., Brinkmann N., Song B., Janz D., Schöning I., Daniel R., Pena R., Polle A. (2020): Soil and root nutrient chemistry structure root - associated fungal assemblages in temperate forests. Environmental Microbiology 22 (8), 3081-3095. doi: 10.1111/1462-2920.15037
More information:  doi.org
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Goldmann K., Ammerschubert S., Pena R., Polle A., Wu B.-W., Wubet T., Buscot F. (2020): Early stage root-associated fungi show a high temporal turnover, but are independent of beech progeny. Microorganisms 8 (2), 210. doi: 10.3390/microorganisms8020210
More information:  doi.org
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Triebkräfte für die Zusammensetzung von Pilzgemeinschaften an Wurzeln in temperaten Wäldern
Schröter K., Wemheuer B., Pena R., Schöning I., Ehbrecht M., Schall P., Ammer C., Daniel R., Polle A. (2019): Assembly processes of trophic guilds in the root mycobiome of temperate forests. Molecular Ecology 28 (2), 348-364. doi: 10.1111/mec.14887
More information:  doi.org
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Abhängigkeit der Stickstoffaufnahme von der Baumart in der Schorfheide-Chorin
Niemeyer M. (2019): Abhängigkeit der Stickstoffaufnahme von der Baumart in der Schorfheide-Chorin. Bachelor thesis, University of Göttingen.
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Interaction of plant roots and soil fungi and their effects on soil and rhizosphere enzyme activities
Song B. (2019): Interaction of plant roots and soil fungi and their effects on soil and rhizosphere enzyme activities. Dissertation, University Göttingen
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Biomasse- Blattzahl- und Höhenvergleich von Rotbuchen (Fagus sylvatica L.) verschiedener Herkünfte im Biodiversitäts-Exploratorium „Schorfheide“
Hendricks J. (2018): Biomasse- Blattzahl- und Höhenvergleich von Rotbuchen (Fagus sylvatica L.) verschiedener Herkünfte im Biodiversitäts-Exploratorium „Schorfheide“. Technical report, University Göttingen
Doc
Beschreibung von EST-SSRs für die Rotbuche (Fagus sylvatica L.) und ihre Übertragbarkeit auf Fagus orientalis Lipsky, Castanea dentata Bork. und Quercus rubra L.
Burger K., Müller M., Gailing O. (2018): Characterization of EST-SSRs for European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) and their transferability to Fagus orientalis Lipsky, Castanea dentata Bork., and Quercus rubra L. Silvae Genetica, 67 (1), 127-132. doi: 10.2478/sg-2018-0019
More information:  doi.org
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Nguyen Q. D. (2018): Diversity and function of root-associated fungal communities in relation to nitrogen nutrition in temperate forests. Dissertation, University Göttingen
More information:  ediss.uni-goettingen.de
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Artenreichtum und funktionelle Merkmale von Mykorrhizagesellschaften in verschiedenen Regionen und Waldarten
Pena R., Lang C., Lohaus G., Boch S., Schall P., Schöning I., Ammer C., Fischer M., Polle A. (2017): Phylogenetic and functional traits of ectomycorrhizal assemblages in top soil from different biogeographic regions and forest types. Mycorrhiza 27 (3), 233–245. doi: 10.1007/s00572-016-0742-z
More information:  doi.org
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Nguyen D. Q., Pena R., Polle A. (2017): Impact of ectomycorrhizal community composition and soil treatment on inorganic nitrogen nutrition and performance of beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) provenances. Trees - structure and function 31 (6), 1891–1904. doi: 10.1007/s00468-017-1594-7
More information:  doi.org
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Biomasse- und Höhenvergleich von Rotbuchen (Fagus sylvatica L.) verschiedener Herkünfte im Biodiversitäts-Exploratorium „Schwäbische Alb“
Schäfer N. (2017): Biomasse- und Höhenvergleich von Rotbuchen (Fagus sylvatica L.) verschiedener Herkünfte im Biodiversitäts-Exploratorium „Schwäbische Alb“. Technical report, University Göttingen
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Einfluss verschiedener Böden auf die Stickstoffaufnahme und Struktur von symbiontischen Wurzelpilzen bei jungen Buchen
Leberecht M., Tu J., Polle A. (2016): Acid and calcareous soils affect nitrogen nutrition and organic nitrogen uptake by beech seedlings (Fagus sylvatica L.) under drought, and their ectomycorrhizal community structure. Plant and Soil 409 (1), 143–157. doi: 10.1007/s11104-016-2956-4
More information:  doi.org
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Schröter K. (2015): Functional diversity of mycorrhiza in relation to land-use changes and ecosystem functions. Dissertation, University Göttingen
More information:  ediss.uni-goettingen.de
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Räumliches Muster von Ectomycorrhizagesellschaften in einem Buchenwald: Gibt es Beziehungen zwischen Pilzarten und Baumgenotyp?
Lang C., Finkeldey R., Polle A. (2013): Spatial patterns of ectomycorrhizal assemblages in a monospecific forest in relation to host tree genotype. Frontiers in Plant Science 4:103. doi: 10.3389/fpls.2013.00103
More information:  doi.org
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Ektomykorrhiza-Gesellschaften im Buchenwald: Beeinflussung durch abgestorbene Wurzeln
Steckel M. (2013): Ektomykorrhiza-Gesellschaften im Buchenwald: Beeinflussung durch abgestorbene Wurzeln. Bachelor thesis, University Goettingen
Doc
The effects of management and soil disturbance on ectomycorhizzal communities in beech woodlands in Hainich National Park, Germany
Hughes D. (2012): The effects of management and soil disturbance on ectomycorhizzal communities in beech woodlands in Hainich National Park, Germany. Bachelorarbeit, Bangor University
Doc
Sind die Wurzeln der Buche (Fagus sylvatica) territorial?
Lang C., Dolynska A., Finkeldey R., Polle A. (2010): Are beech (Fagus sylvatica) roots territorial? Forest Ecology and Management 260 (7), 1212-1217. doi:10.1016/j.foreco.2010.07.014
More information:  doi.org

Project in other funding periods

Figure: The photo shows a close-up of moss and two mushrooms in a forest, with logs of dead wood in the background
ECTOMYC (Contributing project)
#Microorganisms & Fungi  #2017 – 2020  #Plant - fungus interaction […]
Figure: The photo shows a close-up of moss and two mushrooms in a forest, with logs of dead wood in the background
ECTOMYC (Contributing project)
#Microorganisms & Fungi  #2014 – 2017  #Plant - fungus interaction […]
Figure: The photo shows a close-up of moss and two mushrooms in a forest, with logs of dead wood in the background
ECTOMYC (Contributing project)
#Microorganisms & Fungi  #2011 – 2014  #Plant - fungus interaction […]
Figure: The photo shows a close-up of moss and two mushrooms in a forest, with logs of dead wood in the background
ECTOMYC (Contributing project)
#Microorganisms & Fungi  #2008 – 2011  #Plant - fungus interaction […]

Scientific assistants

Prof. Dr. Andrea Polle
Project manager
Prof. Dr. Andrea Polle
Georg-August-Universität Göttingen
Dr. Johannes Ballauff
Alumni
Dr. Johannes Ballauff
Dr. Christian Eckert
Alumni
Dr. Christian Eckert
Dr. Karl Kasper
Alumni
Dr. Karl Kasper
Yang Yang
Employee
Yang Yang
Georg-August-Universität Göttingen
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