Grassland ecosystem type drives AM fungal diversity and functional guild distribution in North American grasslands

Christopher P. Kasanke; Qian Zhao; Trinidad Alfaro; Christopher A. Walter; Sarah E. Hobbie; Tanya E. Cheeke; Kirsten S. Hofmockel

doi:10.1111/mec.16823

Grassland ecosystem type drives AM fungal diversity and functional guild distribution in North American grasslands

Christopher P. Kasanke, Qian Zhao, Trinidad Alfaro, Christopher A. Walter, Sarah E. Hobbie, Tanya E. Cheeke, Kirsten S. Hofmockel

Ecology, Evolution and Behavior

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

2 Scopus citations

Abstract

Nutrient exchange forms the basis of the ancient symbiotic relationship that occurs between most land plants and arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi. Plants provide carbon (C) to AM fungi and fungi provide the plant with nutrients such as nitrogen (N) and phosphorous (P). Nutrient addition can alter this symbiotic coupling in key ways, such as reducing AM fungal root colonization and changing the AM fungal community composition. However, environmental parameters that differentiate ecosystems and drive plant distribution patterns (e.g., pH, moisture), are also known to impact AM fungal communities. Identifying the relative contribution of environmental factors impacting AM fungal distribution patterns is important for predicting biogeochemical cycling patterns and plant-microbe relationships across ecosystems. To evaluate the relative impacts of local environmental conditions and long-term nutrient addition on AM fungal abundance and composition across grasslands, we studied experimental plots amended for 10 years with N, P, or N and P fertilizer in different grassland ecosystem types, including tallgrass prairie, montane, shortgrass prairie, and desert grasslands. Contrary to our hypothesis, we found ecosystem type, not nutrient treatment, was the main driver of AM fungal root colonization, diversity, and community composition, even when accounting for site-specific nutrient limitations. We identified several important environmental drivers of grassland ecosystem AM fungal distribution patterns, including aridity, mean annual temperature, root moisture, and soil pH. This work provides empirical evidence for niche partitioning strategies of AM fungal functional guilds and emphasizes the importance of long-term, large scale research projects to provide ecologically relevant context to nutrient addition studies.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	1133-1148
Number of pages	16
Journal	Molecular ecology
Volume	32
Issue number	5
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1111/mec.16823
State	Published - Mar 2023

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
This work was funded by National Science Foundation (NSF DEB‐1556418). This study was generated using data from the Nutrient Network ( http://www.nutnet.org ) experiment, funded at the site‐scale by individual researchers. We also thank lead investigators, Dana M. Blumenthal (USDA‐Agricultural Research Service), Cynthia S. Brown (Colorado State University), Scott L. Collins (University of New Mexico), Julia A. Klein (Colorado State University), Johannes M. H. Knops (University of Nebraska), Elizabeth Borer (University of Minnesota), Eric Seabloom (University of Minnesota), Kimberly J. Komatsu (Smithsonian Environmental Research Center), at each site for operations and maintenance. We thank Ashley Finnestad, Noah Ault, Nicholas Sconzo, Gunnar Wickenhagen, Marcy McCall, Megan Brauner, Patrick Zecchino, Tristan Anderson, and Javier Chavez Lara for laboratory assistance. We thank anonymous reviewers for their helpful comments on the manuscript. Coordination and data management have been supported by funding to E. Borer and E. Seabloom from the National Science Foundation Research Coordination Network (NSF‐DEB‐1042132) and Long Term Ecological Research (NSF‐DEB‐1234162 and NSF‐DEB‐1831944 to Cedar Creek LTER) programmes, and the Institute on the Environment (DG‐0001‐13). We also thank the Minnesota Supercomputer Institute for hosting project data and the Institute on the Environment for hosting Network meetings.

Funding Information:
This work was funded by National Science Foundation (NSF DEB-1556418). This study was generated using data from the Nutrient Network (http://www.nutnet.org) experiment, funded at the site-scale by individual researchers. We also thank lead investigators, Dana M. Blumenthal (USDA-Agricultural Research Service), Cynthia S. Brown (Colorado State University), Scott L. Collins (University of New Mexico), Julia A. Klein (Colorado State University), Johannes M. H. Knops (University of Nebraska), Elizabeth Borer (University of Minnesota), Eric Seabloom (University of Minnesota), Kimberly J. Komatsu (Smithsonian Environmental Research Center), at each site for operations and maintenance. We thank Ashley Finnestad, Noah Ault, Nicholas Sconzo, Gunnar Wickenhagen, Marcy McCall, Megan Brauner, Patrick Zecchino, Tristan Anderson, and Javier Chavez Lara for laboratory assistance. We thank anonymous reviewers for their helpful comments on the manuscript. Coordination and data management have been supported by funding to E. Borer and E. Seabloom from the National Science Foundation Research Coordination Network (NSF-DEB-1042132) and Long Term Ecological Research (NSF-DEB-1234162 and NSF-DEB-1831944 to Cedar Creek LTER) programmes, and the Institute on the Environment (DG-0001-13). We also thank the Minnesota Supercomputer Institute for hosting project data and the Institute on the Environment for hosting Network meetings.

Publisher Copyright:
© 2022 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Keywords

community ecology
ecological genetics
fungi
microbial ecology
mycorrhizae
nutrient network

PubMed: MeSH publication types

Journal Article
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

Publisher link

10.1111/mec.16823

Find It

Find It at U of M Libraries

Cite this

@article{beabee68cd5644e2abde0fd923ea5364,

title = "Grassland ecosystem type drives AM fungal diversity and functional guild distribution in North American grasslands",

abstract = "Nutrient exchange forms the basis of the ancient symbiotic relationship that occurs between most land plants and arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi. Plants provide carbon (C) to AM fungi and fungi provide the plant with nutrients such as nitrogen (N) and phosphorous (P). Nutrient addition can alter this symbiotic coupling in key ways, such as reducing AM fungal root colonization and changing the AM fungal community composition. However, environmental parameters that differentiate ecosystems and drive plant distribution patterns (e.g., pH, moisture), are also known to impact AM fungal communities. Identifying the relative contribution of environmental factors impacting AM fungal distribution patterns is important for predicting biogeochemical cycling patterns and plant-microbe relationships across ecosystems. To evaluate the relative impacts of local environmental conditions and long-term nutrient addition on AM fungal abundance and composition across grasslands, we studied experimental plots amended for 10 years with N, P, or N and P fertilizer in different grassland ecosystem types, including tallgrass prairie, montane, shortgrass prairie, and desert grasslands. Contrary to our hypothesis, we found ecosystem type, not nutrient treatment, was the main driver of AM fungal root colonization, diversity, and community composition, even when accounting for site-specific nutrient limitations. We identified several important environmental drivers of grassland ecosystem AM fungal distribution patterns, including aridity, mean annual temperature, root moisture, and soil pH. This work provides empirical evidence for niche partitioning strategies of AM fungal functional guilds and emphasizes the importance of long-term, large scale research projects to provide ecologically relevant context to nutrient addition studies.",

keywords = "community ecology, ecological genetics, fungi, microbial ecology, mycorrhizae, nutrient network",

author = "Kasanke, {Christopher P.} and Qian Zhao and Trinidad Alfaro and Walter, {Christopher A.} and Hobbie, {Sarah E.} and Cheeke, {Tanya E.} and Hofmockel, {Kirsten S.}",

note = "Funding Information: This work was funded by National Science Foundation (NSF DEB‐1556418). This study was generated using data from the Nutrient Network ( http://www.nutnet.org ) experiment, funded at the site‐scale by individual researchers. We also thank lead investigators, Dana M. Blumenthal (USDA‐Agricultural Research Service), Cynthia S. Brown (Colorado State University), Scott L. Collins (University of New Mexico), Julia A. Klein (Colorado State University), Johannes M. H. Knops (University of Nebraska), Elizabeth Borer (University of Minnesota), Eric Seabloom (University of Minnesota), Kimberly J. Komatsu (Smithsonian Environmental Research Center), at each site for operations and maintenance. We thank Ashley Finnestad, Noah Ault, Nicholas Sconzo, Gunnar Wickenhagen, Marcy McCall, Megan Brauner, Patrick Zecchino, Tristan Anderson, and Javier Chavez Lara for laboratory assistance. We thank anonymous reviewers for their helpful comments on the manuscript. Coordination and data management have been supported by funding to E. Borer and E. Seabloom from the National Science Foundation Research Coordination Network (NSF‐DEB‐1042132) and Long Term Ecological Research (NSF‐DEB‐1234162 and NSF‐DEB‐1831944 to Cedar Creek LTER) programmes, and the Institute on the Environment (DG‐0001‐13). We also thank the Minnesota Supercomputer Institute for hosting project data and the Institute on the Environment for hosting Network meetings. Funding Information: This work was funded by National Science Foundation (NSF DEB-1556418). This study was generated using data from the Nutrient Network (http://www.nutnet.org) experiment, funded at the site-scale by individual researchers. We also thank lead investigators, Dana M. Blumenthal (USDA-Agricultural Research Service), Cynthia S. Brown (Colorado State University), Scott L. Collins (University of New Mexico), Julia A. Klein (Colorado State University), Johannes M. H. Knops (University of Nebraska), Elizabeth Borer (University of Minnesota), Eric Seabloom (University of Minnesota), Kimberly J. Komatsu (Smithsonian Environmental Research Center), at each site for operations and maintenance. We thank Ashley Finnestad, Noah Ault, Nicholas Sconzo, Gunnar Wickenhagen, Marcy McCall, Megan Brauner, Patrick Zecchino, Tristan Anderson, and Javier Chavez Lara for laboratory assistance. We thank anonymous reviewers for their helpful comments on the manuscript. Coordination and data management have been supported by funding to E. Borer and E. Seabloom from the National Science Foundation Research Coordination Network (NSF-DEB-1042132) and Long Term Ecological Research (NSF-DEB-1234162 and NSF-DEB-1831944 to Cedar Creek LTER) programmes, and the Institute on the Environment (DG-0001-13). We also thank the Minnesota Supercomputer Institute for hosting project data and the Institute on the Environment for hosting Network meetings. Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2022 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.",

year = "2023",

month = mar,

doi = "10.1111/mec.16823",

language = "English (US)",

volume = "32",

pages = "1133--1148",

journal = "Molecular ecology",

issn = "0962-1083",

publisher = "Wiley-Blackwell",

number = "5",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - Grassland ecosystem type drives AM fungal diversity and functional guild distribution in North American grasslands

AU - Kasanke, Christopher P.

AU - Zhao, Qian

AU - Alfaro, Trinidad

AU - Walter, Christopher A.

AU - Hobbie, Sarah E.

AU - Cheeke, Tanya E.

AU - Hofmockel, Kirsten S.

N1 - Funding Information: This work was funded by National Science Foundation (NSF DEB‐1556418). This study was generated using data from the Nutrient Network ( http://www.nutnet.org ) experiment, funded at the site‐scale by individual researchers. We also thank lead investigators, Dana M. Blumenthal (USDA‐Agricultural Research Service), Cynthia S. Brown (Colorado State University), Scott L. Collins (University of New Mexico), Julia A. Klein (Colorado State University), Johannes M. H. Knops (University of Nebraska), Elizabeth Borer (University of Minnesota), Eric Seabloom (University of Minnesota), Kimberly J. Komatsu (Smithsonian Environmental Research Center), at each site for operations and maintenance. We thank Ashley Finnestad, Noah Ault, Nicholas Sconzo, Gunnar Wickenhagen, Marcy McCall, Megan Brauner, Patrick Zecchino, Tristan Anderson, and Javier Chavez Lara for laboratory assistance. We thank anonymous reviewers for their helpful comments on the manuscript. Coordination and data management have been supported by funding to E. Borer and E. Seabloom from the National Science Foundation Research Coordination Network (NSF‐DEB‐1042132) and Long Term Ecological Research (NSF‐DEB‐1234162 and NSF‐DEB‐1831944 to Cedar Creek LTER) programmes, and the Institute on the Environment (DG‐0001‐13). We also thank the Minnesota Supercomputer Institute for hosting project data and the Institute on the Environment for hosting Network meetings. Funding Information: This work was funded by National Science Foundation (NSF DEB-1556418). This study was generated using data from the Nutrient Network (http://www.nutnet.org) experiment, funded at the site-scale by individual researchers. We also thank lead investigators, Dana M. Blumenthal (USDA-Agricultural Research Service), Cynthia S. Brown (Colorado State University), Scott L. Collins (University of New Mexico), Julia A. Klein (Colorado State University), Johannes M. H. Knops (University of Nebraska), Elizabeth Borer (University of Minnesota), Eric Seabloom (University of Minnesota), Kimberly J. Komatsu (Smithsonian Environmental Research Center), at each site for operations and maintenance. We thank Ashley Finnestad, Noah Ault, Nicholas Sconzo, Gunnar Wickenhagen, Marcy McCall, Megan Brauner, Patrick Zecchino, Tristan Anderson, and Javier Chavez Lara for laboratory assistance. We thank anonymous reviewers for their helpful comments on the manuscript. Coordination and data management have been supported by funding to E. Borer and E. Seabloom from the National Science Foundation Research Coordination Network (NSF-DEB-1042132) and Long Term Ecological Research (NSF-DEB-1234162 and NSF-DEB-1831944 to Cedar Creek LTER) programmes, and the Institute on the Environment (DG-0001-13). We also thank the Minnesota Supercomputer Institute for hosting project data and the Institute on the Environment for hosting Network meetings. Publisher Copyright: © 2022 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

PY - 2023/3

Y1 - 2023/3

N2 - Nutrient exchange forms the basis of the ancient symbiotic relationship that occurs between most land plants and arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi. Plants provide carbon (C) to AM fungi and fungi provide the plant with nutrients such as nitrogen (N) and phosphorous (P). Nutrient addition can alter this symbiotic coupling in key ways, such as reducing AM fungal root colonization and changing the AM fungal community composition. However, environmental parameters that differentiate ecosystems and drive plant distribution patterns (e.g., pH, moisture), are also known to impact AM fungal communities. Identifying the relative contribution of environmental factors impacting AM fungal distribution patterns is important for predicting biogeochemical cycling patterns and plant-microbe relationships across ecosystems. To evaluate the relative impacts of local environmental conditions and long-term nutrient addition on AM fungal abundance and composition across grasslands, we studied experimental plots amended for 10 years with N, P, or N and P fertilizer in different grassland ecosystem types, including tallgrass prairie, montane, shortgrass prairie, and desert grasslands. Contrary to our hypothesis, we found ecosystem type, not nutrient treatment, was the main driver of AM fungal root colonization, diversity, and community composition, even when accounting for site-specific nutrient limitations. We identified several important environmental drivers of grassland ecosystem AM fungal distribution patterns, including aridity, mean annual temperature, root moisture, and soil pH. This work provides empirical evidence for niche partitioning strategies of AM fungal functional guilds and emphasizes the importance of long-term, large scale research projects to provide ecologically relevant context to nutrient addition studies.

AB - Nutrient exchange forms the basis of the ancient symbiotic relationship that occurs between most land plants and arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi. Plants provide carbon (C) to AM fungi and fungi provide the plant with nutrients such as nitrogen (N) and phosphorous (P). Nutrient addition can alter this symbiotic coupling in key ways, such as reducing AM fungal root colonization and changing the AM fungal community composition. However, environmental parameters that differentiate ecosystems and drive plant distribution patterns (e.g., pH, moisture), are also known to impact AM fungal communities. Identifying the relative contribution of environmental factors impacting AM fungal distribution patterns is important for predicting biogeochemical cycling patterns and plant-microbe relationships across ecosystems. To evaluate the relative impacts of local environmental conditions and long-term nutrient addition on AM fungal abundance and composition across grasslands, we studied experimental plots amended for 10 years with N, P, or N and P fertilizer in different grassland ecosystem types, including tallgrass prairie, montane, shortgrass prairie, and desert grasslands. Contrary to our hypothesis, we found ecosystem type, not nutrient treatment, was the main driver of AM fungal root colonization, diversity, and community composition, even when accounting for site-specific nutrient limitations. We identified several important environmental drivers of grassland ecosystem AM fungal distribution patterns, including aridity, mean annual temperature, root moisture, and soil pH. This work provides empirical evidence for niche partitioning strategies of AM fungal functional guilds and emphasizes the importance of long-term, large scale research projects to provide ecologically relevant context to nutrient addition studies.

KW - community ecology

KW - ecological genetics

KW - fungi

KW - microbial ecology

KW - mycorrhizae

KW - nutrient network

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85146180739&partnerID=8YFLogxK

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85146180739&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1111/mec.16823

DO - 10.1111/mec.16823

M3 - Article

C2 - 36516408

AN - SCOPUS:85146180739

SN - 0962-1083

VL - 32

SP - 1133

EP - 1148

JO - Molecular ecology

JF - Molecular ecology

IS - 5

ER -

Grassland ecosystem type drives AM fungal diversity and functional guild distribution in North American grasslands

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Keywords

PubMed: MeSH publication types

Publisher link

Find It

Other files and links

Fingerprint

Cite this