Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Soil microbial communities from an elevational cline differ in their effect on conifer seedling growth

  • Regular Article
  • Published:
Plant and Soil Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Sub-alpine environments consist of altitudinal gradients associated with dramatic changes in plant growth and community composition, but the role of soil feedbacks and microbe interactions is largely unknown. Here, we examine the influence of the overall soil microbial community, with a focus on ectomycorrhizal and dark septate endophytic root colonizing fungi, from low, mid, and high elevations on the growth of Pinus contorta and Picea glauca × engelmannii. The influence of the soil microbial community was tested on seedlings from the same three elevations in order to determine ‘home’ versus ‘away’ effects on conspecifics of differing elevations. The low elevation soil was the most fertile and harbored a soil microbial community with an overall negative effect on seedling growth. In contrast, the high elevation soil was the least fertile and had a microbial community that enhanced seedling growth. However, only the soil microbial community in the highest elevation soil resulted in a stronger influence on the native P. contorta seedlings than seedlings originating from lower elevations. Despite the overall influence of the soil microbial community, ectomycorrhizal colonization was significantly correlated with P. glauca × engelmannii growth rates, but colonization by dark septate endophytes showed no relationship with seedling growth. The results provide evidence that plant—soil microbial community relationships are dependent on soil environment. Moreover, our results provide further support for the importance of soil microbes in facilitating seedling growth toward the edge of their elevational range.

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

Access this article

Log in via an institution

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
Fig. 4

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Agerer R (1987–2006) Colour atlas of ectomycorrhizae, 1st–13th edition. Einhorn, Schwäbisch Gmünd

  • Ayres E, Steltzer H, Simmons BL, Simpson RT, Steinweg JM, Wallenstein MD, Mellor N, Parton WJ, Moore JC, Wall DH (2009) Home-field advantage accelerates leaf litter decomposition in forests. Soil Biol Biochem 41:606–610

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bever JD (2002) Negative feedback within a mutualism: host-specific growth of mycorrhizal fungi reduces plant benefit. Proc R Soc London, Sect B 269:2595–2601

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bever JD, Westover KM, Antonovics J (1997) Incorporating the soil community into plant population dynamics: the utility of the feedback approach. J Ecol 85:561–573

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bradbury SM (1998) Ectomycorrhizas of lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta) seedlings originating from seed in southwestern Alberta cut blocks. Can J Bot 76:213–217

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Buée M, Reich M, Murat C, Morin E, Nilsson RH, Uroz S, Martin F (2009) 454 Pyrosequencing analyses of forest soils reveal an unexpectedly high fungal diversity. New Phytol 184:449–456

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Cázares E, Trappe JM, Jumpponen A (2005) Mycorrhiza-plant colonization patterns on a subalpine forefront as a model system of primary succession. Mycorrhiza 15:405–416

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Danielson RM, Visser S (1989) Effects of forest soil acidification on ectomycorrhizal and vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal development. New Phytol 112:41–47

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dickie IA, Oleksyn J, Reich PB, Karolewski P, Zytkowiak R, Jagodzinski AM, Turzanska E (2006) Soil modification by different tree species influences the extent of seedling ectomycorrhizal infection. Mycorrhiza 16:73–79

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Gardes M, Dahlberg A (1996) Mycorrhizal diversity in arctic and alpine tundra: an open question. New Phytol 133:147–157

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Germino MJ, Hasselquist NJ, McGonigle T, Smith WK, Sheridan PP (2006) Landscape and age-based factors affecting fungal colonization of conifer seedling roots at the alpine tree line. Can J Forest Res 36:901–909

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gleeson SK, Good RE (2003) Root allocation and multiple nutrient limitation in the New Jersey Pinelands. Ecol Lett 6:220–227

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Green DS (2005) Adaptive strategies in seedlings of three co-occurring, ecologically distinct northern coniferous tree species across an elevational gradient. Can J Forest Res 35:910–917

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hansen-Bristow K (1986) Influence of increasing elevation on growth characteristics at timberline. Can J Bot 64:2517–2523

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Haselwandter K, Read DJ (1980) Fungal associations of roots of dominant and sub-dominant plants in high-alpine vegetation systems with special reference to mycorrhiza. Oecologia 45:57–62

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hasselquist N, Germino MJ, McGonigle T, Smith WK (2005) Variability of Cenococcum colonization and its ecophysiological significance for young conifers at alpine-treeline. New Phytol 165:867–873

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hochberg ME, Gomulkiewicz R, Holt RD, Thompson JN (2000) Weak sinks could cradle mutualistic symbioses—strong sources should harbour parasitic symbioses. J Evolution Biol 13:213–222

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ingleby K, Mason PA, Last FT, Fleming LV (1990) Identification of ectomycorrhizas. Institute of Terrestrial Ecology, Res. Publ. No. 5.

  • Ishida TA, Nara K, Hogetsu T (2007) Host effects on ectomycorrhizal fungal communities: insight from eight host species in mixed conifer-broadleaf forests. New Phytol 174:430–440

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Johnson NC, Graham JH, Smith FA (1997) Functioning of mycorrhizal associations along the mutualism-parasitism continuum. New Phytol 135:575–586

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jonsson LM, Nilsson MC, Wardle DA, Zackrisson O (2001) Context dependent effects of ectomycorrhizal species richness on tree seedling productivity. Oikos 93:353–364

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jumpponen A, Trappe JM (1998) Performance of Pinus contorta inoculated with two strains of root endophytic fungus, Phialocephala fortinii: effects of synthesis system and glucose concentration. Can J Bot 76:1205–1213

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jumpponen A, Mattson KG, Trappe JM (1998) Mycorrhizal functioning of Phialocephala fortinii with Pinus contorta on glacier forefront soil: interactions with soil nitrogen and organic matter. Mycorrhiza 7:261–265

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kardol P, Bezemer TM, van der Putten WH (2006) Temporal variation in plant—soil feedback controls succession. Ecol Lett 9:1080–1088

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kardol P, Cornips NJ, van Kempen MML, Bakx-Schotman JMT, van der Putten WH (2007) Microbe-mediated plant-soil feedback causes historical contingency effects in plant community assembly. Ecol Monogr 77:147–162

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kernaghan G, Harper KA (2001) Community structure of ectomycorrhizal fungi across an alpine/subalpine ecotone. Ecography 24:181–188

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kieliszewska-Rokicka B, Rudawska M, Leski T, Kurczyńska EU (1998) Effect of low pH and aluminum on growth of Pinus sylvestris L. seedlings mycorrhizal with Suillus luteus (L. ex Fr.) S.F. Gray. Chemosphere 36:751–756

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Körner C (2003) Alpine plant life: Functional plant ecology of high mountain ecosystems, 2nd edn. Springer, Berlin

    Google Scholar 

  • Lilleskov EA, Bruns TD (2001) Nitrogen and ectomycorrhizal fungal communities: what we know, what we need to know. New Phytol 149:154–158

    Article  Google Scholar 

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

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mandyam K, Jumpponen A (2005) Seeking the elusive function of the root-colonizing dark septate endophytic fungi. Stud Mycol 53:173–189

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mamoun M, Olivier JM (1993) Effect of iron amendment on the development of the ectomycorrhizal fungus Tuber melanosporum and the rhizoplane bacteria. Eur J Soil Biol 29:83–90

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • McLaughlin SB, Tjoelker MJ (1992) Growth and physiological changes in red spruce saplings associated with acidic deposition at high elevations in the southern Appalachians, US. Forest Ecol Manag 51:43–51

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Miyazawa K, Lechowicz MJ (2004) Comparative seedling ecology of eight North American spruce (Picea) species in relation to their geographic ranges. Ann Bot 94:635–644

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Nara K, Hogetsu T (2004) Ectomycorrhizal fungi on established shrubs facilitate subsequent seedling establishment of successional plant species. Ecology 85:1700–1707

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nara K (2006) Ectomycorrhizal networks and seedling establishment during early primary succession. New Phytol 169:169–178

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Nosko P, Kershaw KA (1992) The influence of pH on the toxicity of a low concentration of aluminum to white spruce seedlings. Can J Bot 70:1488–1492

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Oleksyn J, Modrzyński J, Tjoelker MG, Żytkowiak R, Reich PB, Karolewski P (1998) Growth and physiology of Picea abies populations from elevational transects: common garden evidence for ecotypes and cold adaptation. Funct Ecol 12:573–590

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Petermann JS, Fergus AJF, Turnbull LA, Schmid B (2008) Janzen-Connell effects are widespread and strong enough to maintain diversity in grasslands. Ecology 89:2399–2406

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Read DJ, Haselwandter K (1981) Observations on the mycorrhizal status of some alpine plant communities. New Phytol 88:341–352

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rehfeldt GE (1994) Adaptation of Picea engelmannii populations to the heterogeneous environments of the Intermountain west. Can J Bot 72:1197–1208

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Simard SW, Durall DM (2004) Mycorrhizal networks: a review of their extent, function, and importance. Can J Bot 82:1140–1165

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Smith SE, Read DJ (2008) Mycorrhizal symbiosis, 3rd edn. Academic Press, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Smith WK, Germino MJ, Hancock TE, Johnson DM (2003) Another perspective on altitudinal limits of alpine timberlines. Tree Physiol 23:1101–1112

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Thrall PH, Hochberg ME, Burdon JJ, Bever JD (2007) Coevolution of symbiotic mutualists and parasites in a community context. Trends Ecol Evol 22:120–126

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • van der Heijden MGA, Bardgett RD, van Straalen NM (2008) The unseen majority: soil microbes as drivers of plant diversity and productivity in terrestrial ecosystems. Ecol Lett 11:296–310

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Van der Putten WH, van Dijk C, Peters BAM (1993) Plant-specific soil-borne diseases contribute to succession in foredune vegetation. Nature 362:53–56

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wagg C, Pautler M, Massicotte HB, Peterson RL (2008) The co-occurrence of ectomycorrhizal, arbuscular mycorrhizal, and dark septate endophytes in seedlings of four members of the Pinaceae. Mycorrhiza 18:103–110

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wardle DA, Bardgett RD, Klironomos JN, Setälä H, van der Putten WH, Wall DH (2004) Ecological links between above and belowground biota. Science 304:1629–1633

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wilcox HE, Wang CJK (1987) Mycorrhizal and pathological associations of dematiaceous fungi in roots of 7-month-old tree seedlings. Can J Forest Res 17:884–899

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

We thank Linda Tackaberry for field and editorial assistance, and Samantha Saes for the preparation of roots for scoring. We also thank Forrest Phillips for preparing the supplemental image plates and Lewis Melville for help with the microscopic imaging. Financial support was provided by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada Discovery Grants to RLP and HBM.

Author information

Author notes

  1. Cameron Wagg

    Present address: Agroscope Reckenholz Tänikon Research Station ART, Reckenholzstrasse 191, CH-8046, Zürich, Switzerland

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, N1G 2W1, Canada

    Cameron Wagg & R. Larry Peterson

  2. Department of Integrative Biology, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, N1G 2W1, Canada

    Cameron Wagg & Brian C. Husband

  3. Ecosystem Science and Management Program, University of Northern British Columbia, 3333 University Way, Prince George, British Columbia, V2N 4Z9, Canada

    D. Scott Green & Hugues B. Massicotte

Authors
  1. Cameron Wagg
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Brian C. Husband
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. D. Scott Green
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Hugues B. Massicotte
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. R. Larry Peterson
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Cameron Wagg.

Additional information

Responsible Editor: Hans Lambers.

Electronic supplementary material

Below is the link to the electronic supplementary material.

Supplementary Figs (DOC 19398 kb)

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Wagg, C., Husband, B.C., Green, D.S. et al. Soil microbial communities from an elevational cline differ in their effect on conifer seedling growth. Plant Soil 340, 491–504 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-010-0621-x

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-010-0621-x

Keywords

Search

Navigation