Arbuscular common mycorrhizal networks mediate intra- and interspecific interactions of two prairie grasses
Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi form extensive common mycorrhizal networks (CMNs) that may interconnect neighboring root systems of the same or different plant species, thereby potentially influencing the distribution of limiting mineral nutrients among plants. We examined how CMNs affected intra- and...
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Published in: | Mycorrhiza Vol. 28; no. 1; pp. 71 - 83 |
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Main Authors: | , , |
Format: | Journal Article |
Language: | English |
Published: |
Berlin/Heidelberg
Springer Berlin Heidelberg
2018
Springer Nature B.V |
Subjects: | |
Online Access: | Get full text |
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Summary: | Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi form extensive common mycorrhizal networks (CMNs) that may interconnect neighboring root systems of the same or different plant species, thereby potentially influencing the distribution of limiting mineral nutrients among plants. We examined how CMNs affected intra- and interspecific interactions within and between populations of
Andropogon gerardii
, a highly mycorrhiza dependent, dominant prairie grass and
Elymus canadensis
, a moderately dependent, subordinate prairie species. We grew
A. gerardii
and
E. canadensis
alone and intermixed in microcosms, with individual root systems isolated, but either interconnected by CMNs or with CMNs severed weekly. CMNs, which provided access to a large soil volume, improved survival of both
A. gerardii
and
E. canadensis
, but intensified intraspecific competition for
A. gerardii
. When mixed with
E. canadensis
,
A. gerardii
overyielded aboveground biomass in the presence of intact CMNs but not when CMNs were severed, suggesting that
A. gerardii
with intact CMNs most benefitted from weaker interspecific than intraspecific interactions across CMNs. CMNs improved manganese uptake by both species, with the largest plants receiving the most manganese. Enhanced growth in consequence of improved mineral nutrition led to large
E. canadensis
in intact CMNs experiencing water-stress, as indicated by
13
C isotope abundance. Our findings suggest that in prairie plant communities, CMNs may influence mineral nutrient distribution, water relations, within-species size hierarchies, and between-species interactions. |
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Bibliography: | ObjectType-Article-1 SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1 ObjectType-Feature-2 content type line 23 |
ISSN: | 0940-6360 1432-1890 |
DOI: | 10.1007/s00572-017-0801-0 |