Ectomycorrhizal Diversity on Dryas octopetala and Salix reticulata in an Alpine Cliff Ecosystem

• Published in: Arctic, antarctic, and alpine research Vol. 41; no. 4; pp. 506 - 514
• Main Authors: Ryberg, Martin, Larsson, Ellen, Molau, Ulf
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: UCB 450, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado 80309-0450, U.S.A The Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research 01.11.2009; Taylor & Francis; Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research
• Subjects: Agaricales; Alpine environments; Biological Sciences; Biological taxonomies; Biologiska vetenskaper; Cenococcum geophilum; Cliffs; Climate; Cortinarius; Cosmic radiation; DNA; Dryas octopetala; Ecology; Ectomycorrhizal communities; Ectomycorrhizas; Ekologi; Forests; Fungi; Global change; Habitat; host specificity; ITS; Microbiology; Mikrobiologi; Mycology; Phylogenetics; Plants; Polar environments; Root tips; Roots; s; Salix reticulata; Spacer region; Species; Sub-alpine environments; Succession; Taxa; taxonomy; Trees; Tundra; PN, Arctic
• ISSN: 1523-0430; 1938-4246
• DOI: 10.1657/1938-4246-41.4.506

The ectomycorrhizal communities in alpine habitats have been relatively little studied. As global change is predicted to have a large impact in Arctic and alpine environments, it is important to document the fungi of these climatic regions to monitor changes and to understand upcoming successions. This study investigates the ectomycorrhizal community of Dryas octopetala and Salix reticulata on cliff ledges in a mid-alpine setting using the internal transcribed spacer region of nuclear ribosomal DNA for the identification of the fungal component of ectomycorrhizal root tips. It is shown that the community is relatively species rich, with 74 molecular operational taxonomic units (MOTUs)/species, and that it is dominated by Cenococcum geophilum, Thelephoraceae spp., Cortinarius spp., and Sebacinales spp. Furthermore, the dominating species have low specificity regarding the tested hosts and seem likely to be able to facilitate the succession of the alpine tundra to subalpine forest by serving as mycorrhizal partners for establishing pioneer trees.