Global Distributions of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi

By K. Treseder, Alison Cross. Ecosystems, 2006

189 citations recorded by the source corpus.

We examined potential large-scale controls over the distribution of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi and their host plants. Specifically, we tested the hypothesis that AM fungi should be more prevalent in biomes where nutrients are primarily present in mineral, and not organic, forms. Values of percentage root length colonized (%RLC) by AM fungi, AM abundance, and host plant availability were compiled or calculated from published studies to determine biome-level means. Altogether, 151 geographic locations and nine biomes were represented. Percent RLC differed marginally significantly among biomes and was greatest in savannas. AM abundance (defined as total standing root length colonized by AM fungi) varied 63-fold, with lowest values in boreal forests and highest values in temperate grasslands. Biomes did not differ significantly in the percentage of plant species that host AM fungi, averaging 75%. Contrary to the hypothesis, %RLC, AM abundance, and host plant availability were not related to the size, influx, or turnover rate of soil organic matter pools. Instead, AM abundance was positively correlated with standing stocks of fine roots. The global pool of AM biomass within roots might approach 1.4 Pg dry weight. We note that regions harboring the largest stocks of AM fungi are also particularly vulnerable to anthropogenic nitrogen deposition, which could potentially alter global distributions of AM fungi in the near future.

Subfields: Insect Science, Nature and Landscape Conservation, Plant Science

View Paper: https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/039307e828e4f90d4caaa06de26e4b8a6f9a8cc5

How researchers see this paper

The researchers whose trusted networks rank it highest, strongest advocate first. Every researcher gets a different order.

In Insect Science

1. M. Öpik
2. M. Moora
3. M. Zobel
4. K. Treseder
5. J. Davison
6. A. Fitter
7. A. Hodge
8. Fayuan Wang

In Nature and Landscape Conservation

1. M. Zobel
2. A. Helm
3. M. Gerz
4. M. Moora
5. M. Öpik
6. Fayuan Wang
7. M. Pärtel
8. Y. Bar-On

In Plant Science

1. M. Zobel
2. M. Moora
3. M. Öpik
4. Fayuan Wang
5. K. Treseder
6. A. Fitter
7. A. Hodge
8. J. Davison

Citations in the corpus

• Occurrence of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in mining-impacted sites and their contribution to ecological restoration: Mechanisms and applications (2017, background): “In fact, AMF have a global distribution (Kivlin et al., 2011, Treseder and Cross, 2006).”
• Mycorrhizal responses to nitrogen fertilization in boreal ecosystems: potential consequences for soil carbon storage (2007, background): “This group uses host plants, not soil organic matter, for 90% or more of their carbon intake (Abuzinadah & Read, 1989; Finlay et al., 1996; Treseder et al., 2006).”
• The biomass distribution on Earth (2018, methodology): “As we discuss above, the main source we base our estimate of the biomass of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi upon is the study by Treseder & Alison (126).”
• Substantial nitrogen acquisition by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi from organic material has implications for N cycling (2010, background): “(28), whereas the biomass of extraradical mycelium (ERM) may be even greater (up to 10 times that of the IRM) (29).”
• Global diversity and distribution of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (2011, unknown): “…to biome, invasive plants, and plant species richness (Hawkes et al., 2006; Helgason et al., 2002; Kivlin and Hawkes, 2011; Öpik et al., 2006; Treseder and Cross, 2006), supporting the idea that spatial variation in plant community structure at many scales in fl u-ences the distribution of AM…”
• Plant defence theory re‐examined: nonlinear expectations based on the costs and benefits of resource mutualisms (2011, background): “Mycorrhizal fungal abundance varies substantially within and among ecosystems (Treseder & Cross 2006).”
• Very fine roots respond to soil depth: biomass allocation, morphology, and physiology in a broad-leaved temperate forest (2010, background): “Mycorrhizal colonization is closely related to root diameter and distribution in the soil across multiple biomes, and infection rates tend to decline with soil depth in natural ecosystems (Treseder and Cross 2006).”
• The Ecology of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi (2013, background): “The phylum is represented worldwide in almost all major terrestrial biomes (Treseder and Cross, 2006), in bryophytes (mosses), hepatics, pteridophytes, gymnosperms and angiosperms.”
• Plant mycorrhizal status, but not type, shifts with latitude and elevation in Europe (2017, background): “…mycorrhizal trait distribution have been restricted to specific biomes, such as the polar regions (Newsham, Upson, & Read, 2009), targeted ecosystem succession (Dickie et al., 2013) or focused on global variation in root colonization rates (Soudzilovskaia et al., 2015; Treseder & Cross, 2006).”