Record ID No. |
1666 |
Author(s) |
Daleo, P., Alberti, J., Canepuccia, A., Escapa, M., Fanjul, E., Silliman, B R., Bertness, M D., Iribarne, O , 2008 |
Affiliation |
UNMdP, Dept Biol FCEyN, Ecol Lab, CC 573 Correo Cent, B7600WAG, Mar Del Plata, ARGENTINA |
Title |
Mycorrhizal fungi determine salt-marsh plant zonation depending on nutrient supply |
Source. Vol.(no):Page |
Journal of Ecology.96(3):431-437p |
Categories |
Arbuscular Mycorrhiza |
Subjects |
Biochemistry |
Sub-subjects |
Miscellaneous |
Organism |
n.a. |
Country |
ARGENTINA, South America |
Abstracts |
1. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) can affect nutrient uptake of associated
plants and can vary in function from mutualism to parasitism as nutrient availability increases;
thus they may interact with nutrient availability to influence plant community structure. 2. We
experimentally investigated the hypotheses that AMF can affect the community structure of salt
marshes by affecting plant competitive ability. We focused on: Spartina densiflora, that
dominates physically benign high marsh habitats and S. Alterniflora, which dominates more
stressful low marsh habitats. 3. Colonization by AMF increased S. Densiflora growth at low
nutrient levels, but reduced growth at high nutrient levels. Spartina alterniflora was not
colonized by AMF and showed increased growth only with nutrient amendment. Nutrient or fungicide
additions resulted in S. Alterniflora migrating to higher marsh elevations, displacing S.
Densiflora. When nutrient and fungicide additions were made together, however, dominance of S.
Densiflora was maintained in the high marsh. 4. Synthesis. These results show that AMF can affect
the competitive ability of plants and can have a large impact on plant community structure. The
community impacts of these symbioses may be especially sensitive to human-induced eutrophication,
given that nutrient supply can modulate whether AMF positively or negatively affect associated
plants. |