Mycorrhizal mycelium production in relation to forest management intensity and ecosystem functions

Duration of the project: 2014 - 2017

Contact: Rodica Pena, Email: rpena(at)gwdg.de

In the framework of the Biodiversity Exploratories (www.biodiversity-exploratories.de) we investigate the biomass and species composition of soil mycorrhizal extramatrical mycelium (EMM) in relation to land-use intensity (i.e. carbon and nitrogen availability). In temperate forests, mycorrhizal fungi represent a massive segment of soil microbial biomass and diversity. Their mycelia function as a "flexible joint" that holds carbon and nitrogen flows within the plant-fungus system. Hence, knowledge about EMM production, biomass, and turnover are necessary to interrogate primary ecosystem functions such as carbon and nitrogen cycling. As the quantity and the type of external mycelium is a species' trait, any change in mycorrhizal fungal community structure may alter the overall EMM properties.

Our objectives are


  • to estimate extraradical mycorrhizal mycelium production and turnover under a forest management intensity (i.e. carbon and nitrogen availability) gradient

  • to assess mycelial species composition

  • to investigate the functional aspects of mycorrhizal fungal communities.


Posters
Awad A, Pena R (2016) Mycorrhizal mycelium production in relation to forest management intensity and ecosystem functions. Biodiversity exploratory. The Annual assembly of Biodiversity Exploratories, Wernigerode, Germany (16-19 Feb 2016)

Awad A, Pena R (2015) Mycorrhizal mycelium production in relation to forest management intensity and ecosystem functions. Gfö Conference, Göttingen, Germany (31 Aug - 04 Sep 2015)

Awad A, Pena R (2015) Mycorrhizal mycelium production in relation to forest management intensity and ecosystem functions. Biodiversity exploratory. The Annual assembly of Biodiversity Exploratories, Wernigerode, Germany (17-22 Feb 2015)

Presentations
Awad A, and Pena R (2016) Mycorrhizal mycelium production in relation to forest management intensity and ecosystem functions. Biodiversity exploratory. The annual Assembly of Biodiversity Exploratories, Wernigerode, Germany (16-19 Feb 2016)

Pena R (2015) Mycorrhizal mycelium production in relation to forest management intensity and ecosystem functions. Biodiversity exploratory. The annual Assembly of Biodiversity Exploratories, Wernigerode, Germany (17-22 Feb 2015)

Pena R (2014) Mycorrhizal mycelium production in relation to forest management intensity and ecosystem functions. Biodiversity exploratory. The annual Assembly of Biodiversity Exploratories, Wernigerode, Germany (3-6 Apr 2014)

This project is financially supported by German Science Foundation in the framework of the SPP 1374 "Biodiversitäts-Exploratorien" (www.biodiversity-exploratories.de) by the grant PE 2256/1-1.