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Title: Functional traits of ectomycorrhizal trees influence surrounding soil organic matter properties
Abstract Ectomycorrhizal (EM) effects on forest ecosystem carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) cycling are highly variable, which may be due to underappreciated functional differences among EM‐associating trees. We hypothesise that differences in functional traits among EM tree genera will correspond to differences in soil organic matter (SOM) dynamics.We explored how differences among three genera of angiosperm EM trees (Quercus,Carya, andTilia) in functional traits associated with leaf litter quality, resource use and allocation patterns, and microbiome assembly related to overall soil biogeochemical properties.We found consistent differences among EM tree genera in functional traits.Quercustrees had lower litter quality, lower δ13C in SOM, higher δ15N in leaf tissues, greater oxidative extracellular enzyme activities, and higher EM fungal diversity thanTiliatrees, whileCaryatrees were often intermediary. These functional traits corresponded to overall SOM‐C and N dynamics and soil fungal and bacterial community composition.Our findings suggest that trait variation among EM‐associating tree species should be an important consideration in assessing plant–soil relationships such that EM trees cannot be categorised as a unified functional guild. Read the freePlain Language Summaryfor this article on the Journal blog.  more » « less
Award ID(s):
2305863
PAR ID:
10594094
Author(s) / Creator(s):
; ; ; ;
Publisher / Repository:
Wiley
Date Published:
Journal Name:
Functional Ecology
ISSN:
0269-8463
Format(s):
Medium: X
Sponsoring Org:
National Science Foundation
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