Fungal community composition and genetic potential regulate fine root decay in northern temperate forests

Understanding how genetic differences among soil microorganisms regulate spatial patterns in litter decay remains a persistent challenge in ecology. Despite fine root litter accounting for ~50% of total litter production in forest ecosystems, far less is known about the microbial decay of fine roots relative to aboveground litter. Here, we evaluated whether fine root decay occurred more rapidly where fungal communities have a greater genetic potential for litter decay. Additionally, we tested if linkages between decay and fungal genes can be adequately captured by delineating saprotrophic and ectomycorrhizal fungal functional groups based on whether they have genes encoding certain ligninolytic class II peroxidase enzymes, which oxidize lignin and polyphenolic compounds. To address these ideas, we used a litterbag study paired with fungal DNA barcoding to characterize fine root decay rates and fungal community composition at the landscape scale in northern temperate forests, and we esti..., ,

解析土壤微生物的遗传差异如何调控枯落物分解的空间格局，仍是生态学领域长期存在的核心难题。尽管森林生态系统中细根枯落物约占总枯落物产量的50%，但相较于地上枯落物，学界对细根微生物分解过程的了解仍相对匮乏。本研究旨在探究真菌群落具备更高枯落物分解遗传潜力的样地中，细根分解速率是否更快。此外，本研究还验证了：能否以真菌是否携带编码特定木质素降解II类过氧化物酶（ligninolytic class II peroxidase）的基因为依据，划分腐生型（saprotrophic）与外生菌根型（ectomycorrhizal）真菌功能群，从而充分捕捉分解过程与真菌基因间的关联。为验证上述研究思路，本研究在北方温带森林的景观尺度下，采用枯落物袋法（litterbag study）结合真菌DNA条形码（DNA barcoding）技术，表征细根分解速率与真菌群落组成，并开展了[...]