Details of Award
NERC Reference : NE/C507510/1
Influence of soil mesofaunal communities on carbon flux to ectomycorrhizal fungi and saprotrophic microorganisms.
Grant Award
- Principal Investigator:
- Professor D Johnson, University of Aberdeen, Plant and Soil Science
- Grant held at:
- University of Aberdeen, Plant and Soil Science
- Science Area:
- Terrestrial
- Overall Classification:
- Terrestrial
- ENRIs:
- Global Change
- Biodiversity
- Science Topics:
- Environmental Microbiology
- Environmental Physiology
- Biogeochemical Cycles
- Soil science
- Abstract:
- Ectomycorrhizal (EM) fungi are the dominant symbiotic microorganisms in forests and because they receive significant quantities of carbon (C) from their host plants, they have a key role in the global terrestrial carbon cycle. The external mycelium of EM fungi is of particular importance not just in terms of biomass and exploitative capability but because it is the primary interface with the bulk soil and is therefore the main conduit through which recent plant assimilate enters the soil. Despite the importance of the external mycelium, its functional diversity in nature is poorly understood. In particular, little is known about the importance of the interactions between EM fungi and other groups of abundant soil organisms for C cycling. Using both radioactive and stable isotopes of C, this project will determine the rates and quantities of C allocated from plants to the external EM fungal mycelium. A key component of this project will be the application and development of recent methods that link microbial diversity with their function to forest ecosystems for the first time. The project will combine these with recently developed mesh core systems that will enable the biological pathways of C flux from plants to soils to be determined in situ. It will also address how enchytraeid worms, collembola and mites, three numerically dominant forest soil invertebrates, disrupt C flux to EM fungal mycelium.
- NERC Reference:
- NE/C507510/1
- Grant Stage:
- Completed
- Scheme:
- New Investigators Pre FEC
- Grant Status:
- Closed
- Programme:
- New Investigators
This grant award has a total value of £50,483
FDAB - Financial Details (Award breakdown by headings)
| Total - Staff | Total - T&S | Total - Other Costs | Total - Indirect Costs |
|---|---|---|---|
| £22,563 | £1,427 | £16,115 | £10,379 |
If you need further help, please read the user guide.