Microbial community composition unaffected by mycorrhizal plant removal in sub-arctic tundra
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https://hdl.handle.net/10037/35197Date
2024-03-11Type
Journal articleTidsskriftartikkel
Peer reviewed
Author
Kirchhoff, Leah; Gavazov, Konstantin; Blume-Werry, Gesche; Krab, Eveline J.; Lett, Signe; Pedersen, Emily P.; Peter, Martina; Pfister, Stefanie; Väisänen, Maria; Monteux, SylvainAbstract
Vegetation changes in a warming Arctic may affect plant-associated soil microbial communities with possible
consequences for the biogeochemical cycling of carbon (C) and nitrogen (N). In a sub-arctic tundra heath, we
factorially removed plant species with ecto- and ericoid mycorrhizal associations. After two years, we explored
how mycorrhizal type-specific plant removal influences microbial communities, soil and microbial C and N pools,
and extracellular enzymatic activities. Removal of ecto- and ericoid mycorrhizal plants did not change the soil
fungal or bacterial community composition or their extracellular enzyme activities. However, ericoid plant
removal decreased microbial C:N ratio, suggesting a stoichiometric effect decoupled from microbial community
composition. In other words, microbial communities appear to show initial plasticity in response to major
changes in tundra vegetation. This highlights the importance of longer-term perspectives when investigating the
effects of vegetation changes on biogeochemical processes in Arctic ecosystems.
Publisher
ElsevierCitation
Kirchhoff, Gavazov, Blume-Werry, Krab, Lett, Pedersen, Peter, Pfister, Väisänen, Monteux. Microbial community composition unaffected by mycorrhizal plant removal in sub-arctic tundra. Fungal ecology. 2024;69Metadata
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