Record ID No. |
2833 |
Author(s) |
Schadler M., Brandl R., Kempel A. , 2010 |
Affiliation |
Department of Animal Ecology, University of Marburg, Karl-von-Frisch-Str. 8, 35032 Marburg, Germany. martin.schaedler@ufz.de |
Title |
"Afterlife" effects of mycorrhization on the decomposition of plant residues |
Source. Vol.(no):Page |
Soil Biology & Biochemistry 42(3): 521-523p. |
Categories |
Arbuscular Mycorrhiza |
Subjects |
Biological Interaction |
Sub-subjects |
Mycorrhizal efficiency |
Host |
Plants |
Organism |
Arbuscular Mycorrhiza (AM) |
Country |
Germany, West Europe |
Abstracts |
The symbiosis with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi is known to affect growth and tissue quality of plants. Therefore, mycorrhization may also have "afterlife" effects on decomposition dynamics. We tested this hypothesis with plant material of mycorrhized and non-mycorrhized plants of seven grassland species. We found that mycorrhization increased the decomposition rate and interpret this result as a consequence of the enhanced nutritive status of the plant tissue with positive effects on decomposer activity. The turn-over of organic matter and nutrients in ecosystems may therefore be indirectly influenced by the symbiosis with mycorrhizal fungi. |