Skip to main content

Advertisement

Springer Nature Link
Log in

Belowground ectomycorrhizal communities in three Norway spruce stands with different degrees of decline in the Czech Republic

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Mycorrhiza Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

We investigated the ectomycorrhizal communities on the roots of adult trees and seedlings associated with three Norway spruce stands in the Czech Republic using morphological and molecular tools. The stands had different degrees of forest decline due to air pollution. The aims of the study were to obtain information about the belowground ectomycorrhizal community in a heavily damaged spruce forest and to assess whether missing ectomycorrhizal fungal partners could be one of the reasons for the observed lack of regeneration. The ectomycorrhizal species richness on the roots of adult trees was significantly lower in the heavily damaged site Mumlavska hora than in the other two, but less drastically so than that found in a fruitbody survey. The roots of adult trees and seedlings were fully mycorrhizal at this site although they were less species-rich. The most abundant ectomycorrhizal species on the root system of adult trees in all three forest stands was Tylospora fibrillosa, a member of the athelioid clade. It made up over 60% of root tips in Mumlavska hora and its proportion was at least twice that in the other two sites. This species was also an efficient colonizer of roots from seedlings, in particular, in the most damaged site. The different soil properties in this site may have caused the observed differences in the ectomycorrhizal species richness and composition. For example, cation exchange capacity and soil base saturation were lower and the soil more often saturated. However, the number of living trees and their defoliation status may well directly impact the ectomycorrhizal species composition by presumably affecting the amount of carbon delivered to the symbiotic fungal partners. Athelioids and thelephoroids are an important component of the belowground ectomycorrhizal community in most temperate and boreal forests, but the role they play might even be more crucial in stressed forest ecosystems. Based on our results, we suggest that factors other than missing ectomycorrhizal inoculum constrain natural regeneration in the heavily damaged site Mumlavska hora.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Subscribe and save

Springer+ Basic
$34.99 /Month
  • Get 10 units per month
  • Download Article/Chapter or eBook
  • 1 Unit = 1 Article or 1 Chapter
  • Cancel anytime
Subscribe now

Buy Now

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3

Similar content being viewed by others

Explore related subjects

Discover the latest articles and news from researchers in related subjects, suggested using machine learning.

References

  • Agerer R (1991) Characterization of ectomycorrhiza. Method Microbiol 23:26–73

    Google Scholar 

  • Arnolds E (1991) Decline of ectomycorrhizal fungi in Europe. Agric Ecosyst Environ 35:209–244

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Avis PG, McLaughlin DJ, Dentinger BC, Reich PB (2003) Long-term increase in nitrogen supply alters above-ground and below-ground ectomycorrhizal communities and increases the dominance of Russula spp. in a temperate oak savanna. New Phytol 160:239–253

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bonifacio E, Santoni S, Celi L, Zanini E (2006) Spodosol–Histosol evolution in the Krkonose National Park (CZ). Geoderma 131:237–250

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cairney J, Burke R (1994) Fungal enzymes degrading plant cell walls: their possible significance in the ectomycorrhizal symbiosis. Mycol Res 98:1345–1356

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cairney J, Meharg A (1999) Influences of anthropogenic pollution on mycorrhizal fungal communities. Environ Pollut 106:169–182

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Carfrae JA, Skene KR, Sheppard LJ, Ingleby K, Crossley A (2006) Effects of nitrogen with and without acidified sulphur on an ectomycorrhizal community in a Sitka spruce (Picea sitchensis Bong. Carr) forest. Environ Pollut 141:131–138

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Champigny M (1995) Integration of photosynthetic carbon and nitrogen metabolism in higher plants. Photosynth Res 46:117–127

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Courty P-E, Pritsch K, Schloter M, Hartmann A, Garbaye J (2005) Activity profiling of ectomycorrhiza communities in two forest soils using multiple enzymatic tests. New Phytol 167:309–319

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cudlín P, Novotný R, Moravec I, Chmelíková E (2001) Retrospective evaluation of the response of Montaine forest ecosystems to multiple stress. Ekológia (Bratislava) 20:108–124

    Google Scholar 

  • Cudlín P, Godbold DL, Bonifacio E, Egli S, Fritz H, Gonthier P, Chmelíková E, Kowalik P, Martinotti M, Moravec I, Nicolotti G, Varese C, Peter M, Zanini E (2003) Conditions of natural regeneration of Norway spruce ecosystems in the Krkonose Mountains. Ekológia (Bratislava) 22(Supplement 1/2003):66–79

    Google Scholar 

  • Cullings KW, Vogler DR, Parker VT, Makhija S (2001) Defoliation effects on the ectomycorrhizal community of a mixed Pinus contorta/Picea engelmannii stand in Yellowstone Park. Oecologia 127:533–539

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cullings K, Raleigh C, Vogler DR (2005) Effects of severe dwarf mistletoe infection on the ectomycorrhizal community of a Pinus contorta stand in Yellowstone Park. Can J Bot 83:1174–1180

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dahlberg A (2001) Community ecology of ectomycorrhizal fungi: an advancing interdisciplinary field. New Phytol 150:555–562

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dahlberg A, Jonsson L, Nylund JE (1997) Species diversity and distribution of biomass above and below ground among ectomycorrhizal fungi in an old-growth Norway spruce forest in south Sweden. Can J Bot 75:1323–1335

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Egli S, Peter M, Falcato S (2002) Dynamics of ectomycorrhizal fungi after windthrow. For Snow Landsc Res 77:81–88

    Google Scholar 

  • Erland S, Taylor AFS (1999) Resupinate ectomycorrhizal genera. In: Cairney JWG, Chambers SM (eds) Ectomycorrhizal fungi. Key genera in profile. Springer, Heidelberg, pp 347–363

    Google Scholar 

  • Fellner R, Pešková V (1995) Effects of industrial pollutants on ectomycorrhizal relationships in temperate forests. Can J Bot 73(Suppl. 1):S1310–S1315

    Google Scholar 

  • Gebhardt S, Neubert K, Wöllecke J, Münzenberger B, Hüttl R (2007) Ectomycorrhiza communities of red oak (Quercus rubra L.) of different age in the Lusatian lignite mining district, East Germany. Mycorrhiza 17:279–290

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gehring C, Whitham TG (2002) Mycorrhiza-herbivore interactions: population and community consequences. In: van der Heijden MGA, Sanders IR (eds) Mycorrhizal ecology. Springer, New York, pp 295–320

    Google Scholar 

  • Gillman GP (1979) A proposed method for the measurement of exchange properties of highly weathered soils. Aust J Soil Res 17:129–139

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gruber F (1994) Morphology of coniferous trees: possible effects of soil acidification on the morphology of Norway spruce and silver fir. In: Godbold DL, Hütterman A (eds) Effects of acid rain on forest processes. Wiley, New York, pp 265–324

    Google Scholar 

  • Hadaš P (1994) Krkonose. Climatic and immission situation on the territory of the Krkonose National Park. In: Final Report of the Project VaV MZP Monitoring and Modelling of Forest Response to Air Pollution and Soil Acidification, IFER, Jilove u Prahy, CZ, p 13

  • Henzlik V, Gutkowski RM, Winnicki T (1997) Forests and air pollution in the Czech Republic. In: Gutkowski RM, Winnicki T (eds) Restoration of forests—environmental challenges in central and eastern Europe. Kluwer, Dordrecht, pp 133–149

    Google Scholar 

  • Hogberg P, Nordgren A, Buchmann N, Taylor AFS, Ekblad A, Hogberg MN, Nyberg G, Ottosson-Lofvenius M, Read DJ (2001) Large-scale forest girdling shows that current photosynthesis drives soil respiration. Nature 411:789–792

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Horton T, Bruns TD (2001) The molecular revolution in the ectomycorrhizal ecology: peeking into the black-box. Mol Ecol 10:1855–1871

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hruška J, Cudlín P (2003) Ratio of base cations and aluminium and spruce stand status in the Czech Republic. In: Hruška J, Cienciala E (eds) Long-term acidification and nutrient degradation of forest soils–limiting factors of forestry today. Czech Ministry of Environment, Prague, CZ

    Google Scholar 

  • Hurlbert SH (1971) The nonconcept of species diversity: a critique and alternative parameters. Ecology 52:577–586

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Innes JL (1993) Forest health: Its assessment and status, CAB International, pp 672

  • Jansen AE (1991) The mycorrhizal status of Douglas Fir in the Netherlands: its relation with stand age, regional factors, atmospheric pollutants and tree vitality. Agric Ecosyst Environ 35:191–208

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jeník J (1961) Alpine vegetation of the Krkonose, Kralicky Sneznik and Hruby Jeseník Mts. CSAV, Praha, CZ, p 409

    Google Scholar 

  • Kårén O, Nylund JE (1997) Effects of ammonium sulphate on the community structure and biomass of ectomycorrhizal fungi in a Norway spruce stand in southwestern Sweden. Can J Bot 75:1628–1642

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kårén O, Högberg N, Dahlberg A, Jonsson L, Nylund JE (1997) Inter- and intraspecific variation in the ITS region of rDNA of ectomycorrhizal fungi in Fennoscandia as detected by endonuclease analysis. New Phytol 136:313–325

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kielszewska-Rokicka B, Rudawska M, Leski T (1997) Ectomycorrhizae of young and mature scots pine trees in industrial regions in Poland. Environ Pollut 98:315–324

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kropp BR, Albee S (1996) The effects of silvicultural treatments on occurrence of mycorrhizal sporocarps in a Pinus contorta forest: a preliminary study. Biol Conserv 78:313–318

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kuikka K, Harma E, Markkola A, Rautio P, Roitto M, Saikkonen K, Ahonen-Jonnarth U, Finlay R, Tuomi J (2003) Severe defoliation of Scots pine reduces reproductive investment by ectomycorrhizal symbionts. Ecology 84:2051–2061

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lilleskov EA, Fahey TJ, Lovett GM (2001) Ectomycorrhizal fungal aboveground community change over an atmospheric nitrogen deposition gradient. Ecol Appl 11:397–410

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lilleskov EA, Fahey TJ, Horton TR, Lovett GM (2002) Belowground ectomycorrhizal fungal community change over a nitrogen deposition gradient in Alaska. Ecology 83:104–115

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Manion PD (1991) Tree desease concepts. Prentice Hall, Engelwood Cliffs, NJ, USA, p 402

    Google Scholar 

  • Markkola A, Kuikka K, Rautio P, Härmä E, Roitto M, Tuomi J (2004) Defoliation increases carbon limitation in ectomycorrhizal symbiosis of Betula pubescens. Oecologia 140:234–240

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Moser M (1983) Die Röhrlinge und Blätterpilze (Polyporales, Boletales, Agaricales, Russulales), Gustav Fischer Verlag, Stuttgart, DE, pp 1–533

  • Mueller RC, Sthultz CM, Martinez T, Gehring CA, Whitham TG (2005) The relationship between stem-galling wasps and mycorrhizal colonization of Quercus turbinella. Can J Bot 83:1349–1353

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nara K, Nakaya H, Wu B, Zhou Z, Hogetsu T (2003) Underground primary succession of ectomycorrhizal fungi in a volcanic desert on Mount Fuji. New Phytol 159:193–206

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Novak F (2001) Nitrogen transformation in soils of mountain spruce stands. Report Biology Centre, AS CR, České Budějovice, pp 183

  • Palfner G, Casanova-Katny MA, Read DJ (2005) The mycorrhizal community in a forest chronosequence of Sitka spruce [Picea sitchensis (Bong.) Carr.] in Northern England. Mycorrhiza 15:571–579

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Percy KE (2002) Is air pollution an important factor in forest health? In: Szaro RC, Bytnerowicz A, Oszlányi J (eds) Effects of air pollution on forest health and biodiversity in forests of the Carpathian Mountains. IOS Press, Amsterdam, pp 23–42

    Google Scholar 

  • Peter M, Ayer F, Egli S (2001a) Nitrogen addition in a Norway spruce stand altered macromycete sporocarp production and below-ground ectomycorrhizal species composition. New Phytol 149:311–325

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Peter M, Ayer F, Egli S, Honegger R (2001b) Above- and below-ground community structure of ectomycorrhizal fungi in three Norway spruce stands in Switzerland. Can J Bot 79:1134–1151

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Polák T, Cudlín P, Moravec I (2007) Macroscopic indicators for the retrospective assessment of Norway spruce crown response to stress in the Krkonoše Mountains. Trees 21:23–35

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Read DJ, Perez-Moreno J (2003) Mycorrhizas and nutrient cycling in ecosystems—a journey towards relevance? New Phytol 157:475–492

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ryan E, Alexander I (1992) Mycorrhizal aspects of improved growth of spruce when grown in mixed stands of heathland. In: Read D, Lewis D, Fitter A, Alexander I (eds) Mycorrhizas in ecosystems. CAB International, Wallingford, pp 237–245

    Google Scholar 

  • Schulze E-D, Lange OL, Oren R (1989) Forest Decline and Air Pullution. Springer, Berlin Heidelberg

    Google Scholar 

  • Schwarz O (2001) Status of forestry in the Krkonose National Park. In: Report of the Project CEC EU SUSBIOFOR. Office of the Krkonose National Park, Vrchlabí, p 69

  • Smith SE, Read DJ (1997) Mycorrhizal symbiosis. Academic, London, pp 1–605

    Google Scholar 

  • Stenstrom E (1991) The effects of flooding on the formation of ectomycorrhizae in Pinus-sylvestris seedlings. Plant Soil 131:247–250

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • SYSTAT (2000) SYSTAT for Windows: Statistics, Version 10. SPSS, Evanston, IL, USA

    Google Scholar 

  • Taylor AFS, Martin F, Read DJ (2000) Fungal diversity in ectomycorrhizal communities of Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) and Beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) along north-south transects in Europe. In: Schulze E-D (ed) Carbon and nitrogen cycling in European forest ecosystems. Ecological studies, vol. 142. Springer, Heidelberg, Germany, pp 343–365

    Google Scholar 

  • Toljander JF, Eberhardt U, Toljander YK, Paul LR, Taylor AFS (2006) Species composition of an ectomycorrhizal fungal community along a local nutrient gradient in a boreal forest. New Phytol 170:873–884

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tyler G (1985) Macrofungal flora of Swedish beech forest related to soil organic matter and acidity characteristics. For Ecol Manag 10:13–29

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vacek S, Matějka K (1999) The state of forest stands on permanent research plots in the Krkonoše Mts. in the years 1967–1997. J For Sci 45:291–315

    Google Scholar 

  • Visser S, Parkinson D (1999) Wildfire vs. clearcutting: impacts on ectomycorrhizal and decomposer fungi. In: Meurisse RT, Ypsilantis WG, Seybold C (eds) Proceedings: Pacific Northwest forest and rangeland soil organism symposium. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station, Portland, Oregon, Corvallis USA, pp 114–123

    Google Scholar 

  • Wallenda T, Kottke I (1998) Nitrogen deposition and ectomycorrhizas. New Phytol 139:169–187

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wiklund K, Nilsson LO, Jacobsson S (1995) Effects of irrigation, fertilization and artificial drought on basidioma production in a Norway spruce stand. Can J Bot 73:200–208

    Google Scholar 

  • Wildi O, Orlóci L (1996) Numerical exploration of community pattern. A guide to the use of MULVA 5. SPC Academic Publishing, Amsterdam, NL

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank Simone Falcato for assistance in morphotype and DNA analyses and Silvia Dingwall for language help. This study was funded by the European project “Sustainable bio-technologies against forest regeneration decline and soil erosion in North-Eastern Bohemia” (SUSBIOFOR), a project of MZP CR OC E38.001 and research plan of CAS AV0Z60870520.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Swiss Federal Research Institute WSL, Zuercherstrasse 111, CH-8903, Birmensdorf, Switzerland

    Martina Peter, François Ayer & Simon Egli

  2. Institute of Landscape Ecology, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, 370 05, Ceske Budejovice, The Czech Republic

    Pavel Cudlín

Authors
  1. Martina Peter
    View author publications

    Search author on:PubMed Google Scholar

  2. François Ayer
    View author publications

    Search author on:PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Pavel Cudlín
    View author publications

    Search author on:PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Simon Egli
    View author publications

    Search author on:PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Martina Peter.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Peter, M., Ayer, F., Cudlín, P. et al. Belowground ectomycorrhizal communities in three Norway spruce stands with different degrees of decline in the Czech Republic. Mycorrhiza 18, 157–169 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00572-008-0166-5

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00572-008-0166-5

Keywords