Response of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi to grazing in wetland ecosystem on the Qinghai-Tibet plateau

In this study, AM fungi in both soil and roots were examined in non-grazing and grazing area in a Zoige wetland ecosystem on the Qinghai-Tibet plateau. Grazing significantly increased AM fungal spore density and glomalin-related soil proteins, but had no effect on AM fungal extra radical hyphal density. In total, 156 AM fungal operational taxonomic units (OTUs) were obtained at a 97% sequence similarity level using Illumina sequencing of 18S rDNA. AM fungal OTU richness was significantly higher in soil than in roots, but not significantly affected by grazing. AM fungal community composition was significantly different between soil and roots, and was significantly affected by grazing in soil, but not in roots.