ROW: Timing of Nutrient Mineralization from Leaf Litter: Internal Cycling by Fungi

这项研究的目的是测试是否叶- 分解真菌短路磷矿化 磷缺乏的热带雨林。 一个缩影 计划进行一项实验，以确定真菌是否可以从 部分腐烂的树叶变成了新鲜的垃圾。 真菌运输 可以解释先前观察到的P 在叶片的早期阶段超过初始量的100 分解 如果凋落物中磷的矿化 由于分解真菌的内部循环， 植物根部的P的有效性可能受到限制。 在一些 磷和氮的脱磷生态系统，营养物质 隔离在真菌生物质中的生物质可能会被更高的 当真菌种群崩溃的时候。 未来的目标将 包括确定养分矿化的时间 因为它可以通过润湿和干燥来控制 循环和食菌微型节肢动物。 这项研究的结果应该对 热带森林生态系统的管理以及 对这些系统的基本生态理解。 的 主要研究者积极主动，并得到以下方面的支持： 知识渊博的同事。 机构设施和 住宿是足够的研究。

The objective of this research project is to test whether leaf- decomposing fungi short-circuit phosphorus mineralization in a phosphorus-depauperate tropical rainforest. A microcosm experiment is planned to determine if fungi can export 32P from partially decomposed leaves into fresh litter. Fungal transport from old litter could explain previously observed increased in P above 100% of the initial amount during early stages of leaf decomposition. If mineralization of phosphorus from litter is bypassed because of internal recycling by decomposer fungi the availability of P to plant roots may be restricted. In some phosphorus and nitrogen depauperate ecosystems, nutrients sequestered in fungal biomass may become available to higher plants when fungal populations crash. Future objectives will include the determination of timing of nutrient mineralization from fungal biomass as it may be controlled by wetting and drying cycles and fungivorous microarthropods. Results of this research should have implications for the management of tropical forest ecosystems as well as for the fundamental ecological understanding of those systems. The principal investigator is well motivated and supported by knowledgeable colleagues. Institutional facilities and accommodation are adequate to the research.