Fungal Necromass Research Articles

Tracing bacterial and fungal necromass dynamics of municipal sludge in landfill bioreactors using biomarker amino sugars

The dynamics of microbial necromass of municipal solid waste over long-term landfill remain unknown. This study presents the first investigation on the dynamics of bacterial and fungal necromass of municipal sludge in non-aeration versus alternating aeration landfill bioreactors by using amino sugar biomarkers. Results showed that under non-aeration treatment, the decomposition rate of muramic acid derived from bacteria is higher than that of fungal-derived glucosamine. The relative change in glucosamine and muramic acid in the early period of landfills under the alternating aeration treatment is consistent with that under non-aeration treatment. However, with the increase in alternating aeration cycles, bacterial necromass muramic acid exerts a lower decomposition rate than fungal necromass glucosamine. Throughout the entire landfill period, galactosamine is the amino sugar with the slowest decomposition rate under non-aeration mode but the amino sugar with the fastest decomposition rate under alternating aeration mode. The present work fills the knowledge gap of microbial necromass dynamics of municipal solid waste in landfills.

Rapid changes in the chemical composition of degrading ectomycorrhizal fungal necromass

Abstract Characterizing the chemical changes in fungal necromass as it degrades, particularly over short time intervals (days to weeks), is critical to clearly understanding how this organic matter source contributes to various belowground carbon and nutrient pools. Using a range of chemical analyses, we assessed the degradation of four types of ectomycorrhizal fungal necromass from three species differing in biochemical composition. Samples were buried in a forest in Minnesota, USA and harvested at eight time points over a 90-day incubation period (1, 2, 4, 7, 14, 28, 60, 90 days). Three of the necromass types lost greater than 50% of their initial mass in the first seven days, but mass loss plateaued for all four types at later harvests, and after 90 days, none of the samples were completely degraded. Relative to undegraded necromass, degraded necromass consistently contained a lower relative abundance of aliphatic compounds and a higher relative abundance of carbohydrates, sterols, and aromatic compounds. For three of the four necromass types, nitrogen content was lower after 90 days of degradation and FTIR spectra revealed distinct peaks broadening from day 0 to day 90. While melanin content significantly slowed degradation within species, differences in degradation rates across species were more closely aligned with initial nitrogen content. Collectively, our results indicate that the rapid mass loss of dead fungal mycelium is accompanied by a wide range of changes in necromass chemistry, likely contributing to both short-term soil nutrient and longer-term carbon pools.

Substrate quality drives fungal necromass decay and decomposer community structure under contrasting vegetation types

Abstract Fungal mycelium is increasingly recognized as a central component of soil biogeochemical cycling, yet our current understanding of the ecological controls on fungal necromass decomposition is limited to single sites and vegetation types. By deploying common fungal necromass substrates in a temperate oak savanna and hardwood forest in the midwestern USA, we assessed the generality of the rate at which high‐ and low‐quality fungal necromass decomposes; further, we investigated how the decomposer ‘necrobiome’ varies both across and within sites under vegetation types dominated by either arbuscular or ectomycorrhizal plants. The effects of necromass quality on decay rate were robust to site and vegetation type differences, with high‐quality fungal necromass decomposing, on average, 2.5 times faster during the initial stages of decay. Across vegetation types, bacterial and fungal communities present on decaying necromass differed from bulk soil microbial communities and were influenced by necromass quality. Moulds, yeasts and copiotrophic bacteria consistently dominated the necrobiome of high‐quality fungal substrates. Synthesis. We show that regardless of differences in decay environments, high‐quality fungal substrates decompose faster and support different types of decomposer micro‐organisms when compared with low‐quality fungal tissues. These findings help to refine our theoretical understanding of the dominant factors affecting fast cycling components of soil organic matter and the microbial communities associated with rapid decay.

Nutrient addition reduces carbon sequestration in a Tibetan grassland soil: Disentangling microbial and physical controls

Nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) availability strongly affects carbon (C) cycling and storage in terrestrial ecosystems. Nutrient addition can increase C inputs into soil via increased above- and belowground plant productivity, but at the same time can accelerate organic matter decomposition in the soil. The mechanisms underlying these effects on soil organic C (SOC) dynamics remain unclear, especially in nutrient-limited alpine ecosystems that have been subjected to increasing N and P availability in recent decades. The aim of this study was to clarify the mechanisms underlying SOC decomposition and stabilization in an alpine grassland soil after four years of N and P additions. The soil aggregate size distribution, microbial community structure (lipid biomarkers), microbial C use efficiency (CUE) and microbial necromass composition (amino sugar biomarkers) were analyzed. Nutrient addition increased dominance of fast-growing bacteria (copiotrophs), while P addition alone intensified the competitive interactions between arbuscular mycorrhizal and saprotrophic fungi. These changes led to decreases in the microbial CUE of glucose by 1.6–3.5% and of vanillin by 8.5%, and therefore, reduced SOC content in the topsoil. The total microbial necromass remained unaffected by nutrient addition, but the contribution of fungal necromass to SOC increased. The increased abundance of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and fungal necromass under elevated N availability raised the mass proportion of soil macroaggregates (>250 μm) by 16.5–20.3%. Therefore, fungi were highly involved in macroaggregation following N addition, and so, moderated the SOC losses through enhanced physical protection. Overall, the complex interactions between microbial physiology (CUE), necromass composition (amino sugars) and physical protection (macroaggregation) in mediating SOC dynamics in response to nutrient enrichment were disentangled to better predict the capability of alpine grassland soils to act as a C sink or source under global change.

Non-structural carbohydrate concentrations of Fagus sylvatica and Pinus sylvestris fine roots are linked to ectomycorrhizal enzymatic activity during spring reactivation

We evaluated whether changes in fine root non-structural carbohydrate reserves of Fagus sylvatica and Pinus sylvestris trees influence potential enzymatic activities of their ectomycorrhizal symbionts from winter towards spring reactivation, and whether these changes influence potential soil enzymatic activities. We analyzed sugar and starch concentrations in the fine roots of Fagus sylvatica and Pinus sylvestris and potential activities of ß-glucosidase, ß-xylosidase, and cellobiohydrolase (as proxies for carbon-degrading enzymes) as well as leucine aminopeptidase and chitinase (as proxies for nitrogen-degrading enzymes) of their dominant ectomycorrhizal symbionts as well as in the soil. Sugar concentrations in the fine roots were significantly positively correlated with enzymatic activities of the ectomycorrhizal symbionts. In Pinus sylvestris, both carbon- and nitrogen-degrading enzyme activities showed significant positive correlations with fine root sugar concentrations. In Fagus sylvatica, fine root sugar concentrations were explicitly positively correlated with the activity of nitrogen-degrading enzymes. The chitinase activity in the soil was found to be strongly positively correlated with the enzymatic activity of the ectomycorrhizal symbionts as well as with fine root sugar concentrations. Fine root carbohydrate concentrations of Fagus sylvatica and Pinus sylvestris trees and enzymatic activities of their associated ectomycorrhizal fungi are connected. The specific nutrient demand of the tree species during spring reactivation may affect ectomycorrhizal enzymatic activity via carbon mobilization in the fine roots of Fagus sylvatica and Pinus sylvestris. Moreover, our results suggest that trees indirectly contribute to the degradation of fungal necromass by stimulating ectomycorrhizal chitinase activity in the soil.

Dead Rhizophagus irregularis biomass mysteriously stimulates plant growth.

Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi establish symbiotic associations with many plant species, transferring significant amounts of soil nutrients such as phosphorus to plants and receiving photosynthetically fixed carbon in return. Functioning of AM symbiosis is thus based on interaction between two living partners. The importance of dead AM fungal biomass (necromass) in ecosystem processes remains unclear. Here, we applied either living biomass or necromass (0.0004 potting substrate weight percent) of monoxenically produced AM fungus (Rhizophagus irregularis) into previously sterilized potting substrate planted with Andropogon gerardii. Plant biomass production significantly improved in both treatments as compared to non-amended controls. Living AM fungus, in contrast to the necromass, specifically improved plant acquisition of nutrients normally supplied to the plants by AM fungal networks, such as phosphorus and zinc. There was, however, no difference between the two amendment treatments with respect to plant uptake of other nutrients such as nitrogen and/or magnesium, indicating that the effect on plants of the AM fungal necromass was not primarily nutritional. Plant growth stimulation by the necromass could thus be either due to AM fungal metabolites directly affecting the plants, indirectly due to changes in soil/root microbiomes or due to physicochemical modifications of the potting substrate. In the necromass, we identified several potentially bioactive molecules. We also provide experimental evidence for significant differences in underground microbiomes depending on the amendment with living or dead AM fungal biomass. This research thus provides the first glimpse into possible mechanisms responsible for observed plant growth stimulation by the AM fungal necromass.

Functional convergence in the decomposition of fungal necromass in soil and wood.

Understanding the post-senescent fate of fungal mycelium is critical to accurately quantifying forest carbon and nutrient cycling, but how this organic matter source decomposes in wood remains poorly studied. In this study, we compared the decomposition of dead fungal biomass (a.k.a. necromass) of two species, Mortierella elongata and Meliniomyces bicolor, in paired wood and soil plots in a boreal forest in northern Minnesota, USA. Mass loss was quantified at four time points over an 8-week incubation and the richness and composition of the fungal communities colonizing fungal necromass were characterized using high-throughput sequencing. We found that the structure of fungal decomposer communities in wood and soil differed, but, in both habitats, there was relatively rapid decay (∼30% remaining after 56 days). Mass loss was significantly faster in soil and for high-quality (i.e. high nitrogen and low melanin) fungal necromass. In both habitats, there was a clear trajectory of early colonization by opportunistic fungal taxa followed by colonization of fungi with greater enzymatic capacities to degrade more recalcitrant compounds, including white-rot and ectomycorrhizal fungi. Collectively, our results indicate that patterns emerging regarding substrate quality effects on fungal necromass decomposition in soil and leaf litter can be largely extended to fungal necromass decomposition in wood.

Peatland microbial community response to altered climate tempered by nutrient availability

Northern latitude peatlands contain large reserves of soil carbon (C) due in part to climatic constraints on decomposition, including low temperatures and water inundated soils. Under future climate change scenarios these peatlands will experience warmer temperatures, extended growing seasons, and a potential draw down of the water table, all of which improve conditions for decomposition, as well as photosynthesis. Increased photosynthesis may feedback to increase decomposition of soil C through increased root exudates to belowground decomposer communities, primarily as low molecular weight carbon compounds (LMWCC). In this study, we examine the interactive effects of climate, a combination of three temperatures and two moisture regimes, and root exudates on microbial decomposer function, measured as CO2 respiration, biomass, and potential enzyme activity. We had four substrate treatments: two common LMWCC (glycine or glucose + citric acid), chitin to simulate fungal necromass, and DI as the control. Our results support our first hypothesis that increasing temperature will increase C respiration across substrate and moisture treatments. Our second hypothesis was that compared to control and chitin, soluble substrates (i.e., LMWCC) will enhance respiration across all climate treatments. This was only partially supported. As expected, the two LMWCC substrate additions increased C respiration above the two other substrate additions at current recorded growing season average (12 °C, low treatment) and high (20 °C, med treatment) temperature treatments. Surprisingly, when the system was pushed to a higher temperature extreme (28 °C, high treatment), the low moisture controls respired more C than the other substrate × climate treatments. Potential enzyme activity and demand for phosphorus appear to explain these trends as opposed to changes to microbial biomass. Our results indicate that under projected future high temperatures, the peatland microbial community allocates additional labile C resources to enzyme production to meet nutrient demands, and as such, dampens C lost through respiration.

Rhizosphere carbon supply accelerates soil organic matter decomposition in the presence of fresh organic substrates

Background and aimsBelowground C supply from plant roots may accelerate the decomposition of SOM through the rhizosphere priming effect, but the detailed interaction between substrate quality and rhizosphere C supply is poorly understood. We hypothesize that decomposition of organic matter is enhanced by the combined effect of assimilate C supply to the rhizosphere and substrate amendments.MethodsBirch trees (Betula pendula) planted in experimental mesocosms; half of these trees were shaded to reduce the supply of assimilate C to roots and ECM fungi. Either 13C-enriched glucose, straw, fungal necromass or C4 biochar were subsequently added to each mesocosm. CO2 efflux derived from substrates were separated from that derived from native SOM and roots based on the isotopic composition of total respired CO2.ResultsThe addition of all substrates increased fluxes in both un-shaded and shaded treatments, with greatest total CO2 efflux observed in soils amended with straw. Increases in un-labelled CO2 were observed to be greater in the presence of belowground C supply than in mesocosms with shaded trees.ConclusionsTurnover of SOM is closely linked to belowground C allocation. The biochemical quality and recalcitrance of litter entering the soil C pool is of critical importance to this priming, as is the interaction with rhizosphere-associated decomposition activity.

Manure over crop residues increases soil organic matter but decreases microbial necromass relative contribution in upland Ultisols: Results of a 27-year field experiment

Organic fertilizers increase soil organic matter (SOM) stocks, but the underlying processes depend on the fertilizer type and remain largely unknown. To evaluate the predominant C stabilization mechanisms, upland Ultisols subjected to 27 years of mineral and organic fertilization were analyzed for SOM content, aggregate size classes, and amino sugar composition. The long-term field experiment had seven treatments: no fertilization (Control), mineral NPK fertilizers (NPK), NPK plus lime (NPK + Lime), NPK plus peanut straw (NPK + PeanutStraw), NPK plus rice straw (NPK + RiceStraw), NPK plus radish residue (NPK + RadishResidue), and NPK plus pig manure (NPK + PigManure). The 27-year application of mineral fertilizers (NPK and NPK + Lime), NPK + crop residues, and NPK + PigManure increased SOM content by 11.0–13.2%, 16.3–25.3%, and 44.3%, respectively, compared with the Control. The aliphaticity and recalcitrance indices based on 13C nuclear magnetic resonance spectra of organic fertilizers were higher for pig manure than for crop residues. Both indices were closely correlated with SOM content after 27 years, so higher proportions of recalcitrant C in manure facilitated SOM accumulation. NPK + PigManure increased the mass proportion of large macroaggregates 2.9-fold compared with the Control, and reduced the effective diffusion coefficient of oxygen in the soil. Consequently, NPK + PigManure limited the activity and abundance of aerobes and the accessibility of SOM to microorganisms, in turn facilitating SOM accumulation. The application of mineral fertilizers, NPK + crop residues, and NPK + PigManure increased microbial necromass to 2.85–3.03, 3.21–3.45, and 3.62 g C kg−1, respectively, from 2.63 g C kg−1 in the Control. Compared with crop residues, pig manure did not affect bacterial necromass but increased fungal necromass from 2.19 to 2.39 g C kg−1 to 2.58 g C kg−1, which might associate with increased SOM stability. However, the relative contribution of microbial necromass to SOM was lower under NPK + PigManure than under NPK + crop residues, since more added C was protected in the NPK + PigManure soil. Our results suggest that manure may contribute to SOM accumulation and stabilization in three ways: directly through the input of recalcitrant organic C, indirectly through the stabilization of aggregates and physical protection of C, and to a lesser extent through increasing fungal necromass.

Bacterial and fungal saprotrophs are strongly stimulated weeks to months after forest soil profile reconstruction

The replacement of mineral soil and capping with salvaged forest floor organic material (FFOM) is a site rehabilitation method applied over belowground installations such as pipelines. Such installations, when placed in mature forest soils, can be expected to disrupt ectomycorrhizal fungal communities when root-associated mycelia and exploratory hyphae are damaged during excavation. Soil fungal communities, bacterial communities, and soil enzymatic repertoires may be variably impacted by different site preparation schemes after disturbance. We compared effects of three rehabilitation schemes on fungal community composition, bacterial community composition, and potential hydrolase activities (N-acetyl-β-d-glucosaminidase, acid phosphatase, and cellobiohydrolase) at two times (14 days and 5 months post-site preparation) and two sampling depths (FFOM/”upper” versus mineral/”lower” soil). We observed declines in FFOM-associated fungal biomass (ergosterol) and declines in ectomycorrhizal fungi abundance across all site rehabilitation schemes compared to intact control plots. Fungal community composition strongly shifted to saprotroph dominance (i.e. increased Mortierella, and Umbelopsis) in rehabilitated plots at 5 months, while bacterial community composition did not distinguish control plots from rehabilitation plots ones at either sampling time. Bacterial saprotrophs previously associated with mycelial necromass colonization were higher in abundance across multiple site preparation regimens compared to control plots at 14 days. Our results indicate that reductions in ectomycorrhizal fungal abundance were a dominant community property in recently reconstructed soil profiles. Increases in bacteria associated with recently deposited fungal necromass were detectable within days to weeks of implementing site rehabilitation, while fungal necromass colonizers became dominant 5 months post-rehabilitation. Potential hydrolase activities increased in the site preparation regimen where FFOM was mixed into mineral soil, when compared to mineral soil activities in control plots.

The afterlife effects of fungal morphology: Contrasting decomposition rates between diffuse and rhizomorphic necromass

Microbial necromass is now recognized as an important input into stable soil organic matter pools in terrestrial ecosystems. While melanin and nitrogen content have been identified as factors that influence the decomposition rate of fungal necromass, the effects of mycelial morphology on necromass decomposition remain largely unknown. Using the fungus Armillaria mellea, which produces both diffuse and rhizomorphic biomass in pure culture, we assessed the effects of necromass morphology on decomposition in a 12 week field experiment in Pinus and Quercus dominated forests in Minnesota, USA. Diffuse and rhizomorphic necromass was incubated for 2, 4, 6, and 12 weeks to assess differences in decay rates and changes in residual necromass chemistry. Rhizomorphic necromass decomposed significantly slower than diffuse necromass in both forest types. This difference was correlated with initial necromass chemistry, particularly nitrogen content, but not with hydrophobicity. Over the course of the incubation, there was a greater change in the chemistry of diffuse versus rhizomorphic necromass, with both becoming more enriched in recalcitrant compounds. Given that many fungi with both saprotrophic and mycorrhizal ecologies produce rhizomorphs, these results suggest that mycelial morphology should be explicitly considered as an important functional trait influencing the rate of fungal necromass decomposition.

Conversion of Tibetan grasslands to croplands decreases accumulation of microbially synthesized compounds in soil

Conversion of grassland to cropland affects microbial transformation of plant derived organic substances and the accumulation of microbially synthesized products in soil. We investigated long-term effects of agricultural use [more than 50 years' rotation with barley (Hordeum vulgare) and rapeseed (Brassica rapa)] after conversion from grasslands (grazed in the winter season) on the contents and composition of non-cellulose sugars and amino sugars in a broad range of soils on the Tibetan Plateau. Soils from two types of croplands (barley or rapeseed) were compared to a reference grassland soil by detailed analysis of plant vs. microbial and bacterial vs. fungal biomarkers. Long-term cultivation decreased total soil organic matter (SOM), light SOM and total non-cellulose sugar contents in the 0–20 cm soil by 27%, 47–72% and 57%, respectively, reflecting decreased root biomass compared to grassland. The ratios of (galactose + mannose)/(arabinose + xylose) and (rhamnose + fucose)/(arabinose + xylose) were both 26% smaller in cropland than in grassland soils, while the ratios of hemicelluloses in shoots or roots were similar between native and cultivated plants. Consequently, net transformation of plant substances to microbially synthesized polysaccharides decreased in cultivated soils. The total amino sugars (muramic acid, glucosamine, mannosamine, galactosamine) in cropland soils decreased by 42% as did their contribution to the SOM pool by 22%, compared to grassland soils, but the ratio of glucosamine/muramic acid in cropland soils doubled when compared to the grassland soil. This shows a strong decrease in microbial residue under cultivation, with the magnitude of the decrease greater in the bacterial than in the fungal components. All the above results from the intensively sampled site were confirmed in seven other sites featuring lower sampling intensity. We concluded that the conversion of grassland to cropland strongly decreases microbial transformation of plant residues and accumulation of the resulting microbial compounds – necromass – in soil (i.e., reduction of microbial input to stable SOM). The conversion also leads to a shift in the composition of microbial compounds towards a decreasing contribution of bacterial compared to fungal necromass.

Melanization of mycorrhizal fungal necromass structures microbial decomposer communities

Abstract Mycorrhizal fungal necromass is increasingly recognized as an important contributor to soil organic carbon pools, particularly in forest ecosystems. While its decomposition rate is primarily determined by biochemical composition, how traits such as melanin content affect the structure of necromass decomposer communities remains poorly understood. To assess the role of biochemical traits on microbial decomposer community composition and functioning, we incubated melanized and non‐melanized necromass of the mycorrhizal fungus Meliniomyces bicolor in Pinus‐ and Quercus‐dominated forests in Minnesota, USA and then assessed the associated fungal and bacterial decomposer communities after 1, 2 and 3 months using high‐throughput sequencing. Melanized necromass decomposed significantly slower than non‐melanized necromass in both forests. The structure of the microbial decomposer communities depended significantly on necromass melanin content, although the effect was stronger for fungi than bacteria. On non‐melanized necromass, fungal communities were dominated by r‐selected ascomycete and mucoromycete microfungi early and then replaced by basidiomycete ectomycorrhizal fungi, while on melanized necromass these groups were co‐dominant throughout the incubation. Bacterial communities were dominated by both specialist mycophageous and generalist taxa. Synthesis. Our results indicate that necromass biochemistry not only strongly affects rates of decomposition but also the structure of the associated decomposer communities. Furthermore, the observed colonization patterns suggest that fungi, and particularly ectomycorrhizal fungi, may play a more important role in necromass decomposition than previously recognized.

Spatial Heterogeneity of SOM Concentrations Associated with White-rot Versus Brown-rot Wood Decay

White- and brown-rot fungal decay via distinct pathways imparts characteristic molecular imprints on decomposing wood. However, the effect that a specific wood-rotting type of fungus has on proximal soil organic matter (SOM) accumulation remains unexplored. We investigated the potential influence of white- and brown-rot fungi-decayed Abies nephrolepis logs on forest SOM stocks (i.e., soil total carbon (C) and nitrogen (N)) and the concentrations of amino sugars (microbial necromass) at different depths and horizontal distances from decaying woody debris. The brown-rot fungal wood decay resulted in higher concentrations of soil C and N and a greater increase in microbial necromass (i.e., 1.3- to 1.7-fold greater) than the white-rot fungal wood decay. The white-rot sets were accompanied by significant differences in the proportions of the bacterial residue index (muramic acid%) with soil depth; however, the brown-rot-associated soils showed complementary shifts, primarily in fungal necromass, across horizontal distances. Soil C and N concentrations were significantly correlated with fungal rather than bacterial necromass in the brown-rot systems. Our findings confirmed that the brown-rot fungi-dominated degradation of lignocellulosic residues resulted in a greater SOM buildup than the white-rot fungi-dominated degradation.

Labile carbon 'primes' fungal use of nitrogen from submerged leaf litter.

Microbial decomposers colonising submerged leaf litter are in close spatial proximity with periphytic algae and can use carbon (C) exudates released during photosynthesis. We investigated whether labile C delivered as algal exudates could affect the microbial colonisation and decomposition of leaf litter. Using microcosms, we submerged leaf litter in pond water and monitored fungal and bacterial growth over time and tested the effect of algal photosynthetic exudates by comparing microcosms in light and dark. In order to experimentally assign the effect of algal products to labile C delivery and test for a C driven mechanism, we ran a parallel experiment with microcosms in the dark where we mimicked the delivery of algal labile C by continuously adding glucose. Labile C delivered as algal exudates or glucose resulted in a dominance of fungal decomposers over bacteria, and stimulated the acquisition of more N-rich OM fractions from litter during periods of active fungal growth. Our results highlight that labile C stimulates fungal decomposers and increases N removal from leaf litter. Since fungal necromass is more resistant to degradation than bacterial, we expect that a fungal-dominated litter degradation might contribute to more protected C pools.

Environmental stress response limits microbial necromass contributions to soil organic carbon

The majority of dead organic material enters the soil carbon pool following initial incorporation into microbial biomass. The decomposition of microbial necromass carbon (C) is, therefore, an important process governing the balance between terrestrial and atmospheric C pools. We tested how abiotic stress (drought), biotic interactions (invertebrate grazing) and physical disturbance influence the biochemistry (C:N ratio and calcium oxalate production) of living fungal cells, and the subsequent stabilization of fungal-derived C after senescence. We traced the fate of 13C-labeled necromass from ‘stressed’ and ‘unstressed’ fungi into living soil microbes, dissolved organic carbon (DOC), total soil carbon and respired CO2. All stressors stimulated the production of calcium oxalate crystals and enhanced the C:N ratios of living fungal mycelia, leading to the formation of ‘recalcitrant’ necromass. Although we were unable to detect consistent effects of stress on the mineralization rates of fungal necromass, a greater proportion of the non-stressed (labile) fungal necromass C was stabilised in soil. Our finding is consistent with the emerging understanding that recalcitrant material is entirely decomposed within soil, but incorporated less efficiently into living microbial biomass and, ultimately, into stable SOC.

Fate of Decomposed Fungal Cell Wall Material in Organic Horizons of Old-Growth Douglas-fir Forest Soils

Organic horizons of old-growth Douglas-fir [Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco] forests are colonized by ectomycorrhizal fungi, which can form large patches or mats. Respiration, N mineralization, chitinase activity, and amino sugar C and N turnover are higher in soils colonized by ectomycorrhizal mats. To test if microbial activity in mat soil is driven by decomposition of fungal biomass, we incubated mat and non-mat soil with ¹³C¹⁵N-labeled, chitin-enriched fungal cell wall material. Cell wall material was readily decomposed during 22-d incubations in both soils, and cell-wall-derived ¹³C and ¹⁵N were traced into mineralized pools, extractable organic pools, microbial biomass, and microbial phospholipid fatty acids (PLFAs). Basal microbial activity was higher in mat soils. Although total respiration was higher in mat soils with cell walls added, more cell wall C was mineralized in non-mat than mat soils; this was inferred to reflect greater preferential respiration of cell wall C over soil organic matter (SOM). Mineralization of N from cell wall material was low, with no difference between soils, and positive priming of N mineralization from SOM occurred after 3 wk. Both the proportion of cell wall N assimilated and N growth yield efficiency (GYE) were higher than for cell wall C. The relative abundance of fungi was higher in cell-wall-amended soils, and cell-wall-derived ¹³C was found in fungal and Gram-negative bacterial PLFAs. Cell wall C assimilation and C GYE were higher in mat soils, which could be linked to greater mineralization of SOM or to differential activity of select microbial taxonomic groups. Chitin-rich fungal cell wall material was utilized as both a microbial N and C source; N was predominantly assimilated and C was predominantly metabolized. It is possible that fungal necromass may contribute to N stabilization in these soils.

A knight of symbiosis

A knight of symbiosis

Community shifts and carbon translocation within metabolically-active rhizosphere microorganisms in grasslands under elevated CO<sub>2</sub>

Abstract. The aim of this study was to identify the microbial communities that are actively involved in the assimilation of rhizosphere-C and are most sensitive in their activity to elevated atmospheric CO2 in a temperate semi-natural low-input grassland ecosystem. For this, we analyzed 13C signatures in microbial biomarker phospholipid fatty acids (PLFA) from an in-situ 13CO2 pulse-labeling experiment in the Giessen Free Air Carbon dioxide Enrichment grasslands (GiFACE, Germany) exposed to ambient and elevated (i.e. 50% above ambient) CO2 concentrations. Short-term 13C PLFA measurements at 3 h and 10 h after the pulse-labeling revealed very little to no 13C enrichment after 3 h in biomarker PLFAs and a much greater incorporation of new plant-C into fungal compared to bacterial PLFAs after 10 h. After a period of 11 months following the pulse-labeling experiment, the 13C enrichment of fungal PLFAs was still largely present but had decreased, while bacterial PLFAs were much more enriched in 13C compared to a few hours after the pulse-labeling. These results imply that new rhizodeposit-C is rapidly processed by fungal communities and only much later by the bacterial communities, which we attributed to either a fungal-mediated translocation of rhizosphere-C from the fungal to bacterial biomass or a preferential bacterial use of dead root or fungal necromass materials as C source over the direct utilization of fresh root-exudate C in these N-limited grassland ecosystems. Elevated CO2 caused an increase in the proportional 13C enrichment (relative to the universal biomarker 16:0) of the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal biomarker PLFA 16:1ω5 and one gram-positive bacterial biomarker PLFA i16:0, but a decrease in the proportional 13C enrichment of 18:1ω9c, a commonly used though questionable fungal biomarker PLFA. This suggests enhanced fungal rhizodeposit-C assimilation only by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal species under elevated CO2.