Cheatgrass-associated AMF community negatively affects sagebrush root production but not C transfer to the soil

• Published in: Plant and soil Vol. 436; no. 1/2; pp. 381 - 396
• Main Authors: Dierks, Janina, Denef, Karolien, van Diepen, Linda T. A., de Graaff, Marie-Anne
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cham Springer Science + Business Media 01.03.2019; Springer International Publishing; Springer; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Arbuscular mycorrhizas; Biodiversity; Biomass; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Bromus tectorum; Carbon 13; Carbon dioxide; Community structure; Decomposition; Ecology; Ecosystems; Environmental aspects; Fungi; Grasses; Indigenous plants; Labels; Life Sciences; Mycorrhizae; Plant biomass; Plant communities; Plant Physiology; Plant Sciences; REGULAR ARTICLE; Retirement benefits; Soil carbon; Soil Science & Conservation; Soil structure; Steppes; Plant-soil feedback; Carbon transfer; Decomposition; Mycorrhizae; Invasion
• ISSN: 0032-079X; 1573-5036
• DOI: 10.1007/s11104-018-03917-7

Aim Cheatgrass ( Bromus tectorum) invasion can alter community structure of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) in the sagebrush-steppe ecosystem. The feedbacks and underlying mechanisms of a changed AMF community on sagebrush ( Artemisia tridentate ssp. wyomingensis) remain unclear. We assessed how ‘own’ versus ‘foreign’ AMF impact plant biomass, C transfer to AMF, and decomposition rates. Methods To evaluate the impact of different AMF communities on plant biomass and C transfer, sagebrush and cheatgrass were grown in sterilized soil amended with ‘own’ or ‘foreign’ AMF. Sagebrush plants were labeled with 13 C-CO 2 to assess changes in allocation of C belowground ( 13 C-PLFA & NLFA) and decomposition (soil respired 13 C-CO 2 ). Community structure and alpha-diversity of AMF were examined in native and cheatgrass-invaded communities. Results Cheatgrass invasion changed AMF community structure and decreased AMF taxon richness. Sagebrush C transfer and decomposition were not altered, but sagebrush root and cheatgrass shoot production was reduced with ‘foreign’ AMF and no AMF, respectively. Conclusion Our results from the greenhouse experiment suggest that sagebrush performance declines with cheatgrass invasion. This may be caused by a disadvantageous AMF community shift, where ‘foreign’ AMF received the same amount of C but provided fewer benefits to sagebrush, as shown by decreased root biomass. These findings provide insight into the feedback mechanism that may contribute to decreasing native plant performance upon invasion.