Collaborative Research: Patch Formation and Mycorrhizal Colonization During Succession on Glacial Till

植物演替可能是由斑块形成开始的， 先锋植物 这项研究将包括一系列的 实验来确定这些斑块的形成 与最近冰消期的菌根定殖有关 直到。 个体植物的初始定殖可能是 受非生物因素控制，如种子微生境 沉积和集水，而后来的斑块形成可能 受到生物和非生物因素的调节。 这些生物 因素是本研究的重点。 最初的殖民 植物可以作为一个“护士“植物，既改善了 微环境，并提供了一个来源的菌根 为后来的殖民者接种。 研究人员假设， 阿拉斯加北部的最初殖民者是学者 它们可以在冰川中生存， 真菌接种，直至接种物自然分散。 下一波 植物的殖民者可能是任意的或强制的 他们的种子可以更快地生长， 都存放在一个苗圃附近 因此， 阿拉斯加冰川演替的初始阶段可能取决于 菌根真菌 实验将包括种植两种泡状的- 接种和未接种的丛枝菌根和外生菌根 在冰碛土上培育植物，种植未接种的幼苗 在苗圃周围，观察自然植物， 菌根定殖 微环境的影响 营养植物与菌根接种的改良效果 可以通过比较近距离和远距离的植物生长来区分 接种和未接种的苗圃。 的 植物个体对真菌的生理反应 将在受控条件下进行测量。 许多人早到中年， 据报道，有一系列的植物既是VA菌根的，也是外生菌根的 在冰川冰碛物的演替过程中，两种类型的真菌都会 被操纵和观察。

Plant succession may be initiated by patch formation by the pioneer plants. This research will consist of a series of experiments to determine whether the formation of these patches is related to mycorrhizal colonization on recently deglaciated till. Initial colonization by individual plants may be controlled by abiotic factors such as microsites for seed deposition and water catchment, while later patch formation may be regulated by both abiotic and biotic factors. These biotic factors are the focus of this study. The initial colonizing plant may act as a "nurse " plant both by ameliorating the microenvironment and by providing a source of mycorrhizal inoculum for later colonists. The investigators hypothesize that the initial colonizers in boreal Alaska are facultatively mycorrhizal, and that they can survive in glacial till without mycorrhizae until inoculum is naturally dispersed. The next wave of plant colonists may be facultatively or obligately mycorrhizal, and they may establish more rapidly if their seeds are deposited near a nurse plant. Thus patch formation in the initial stages of glacial succession in Alaska may depend on mycorrhizal fungi. Experiments will consist of planting both vesicular- arbuscular (VA) and ectomycorrhizal inoculated and uninoculated nurse plants on glacial till, planting uninoculated seedlings around the nurse plant, and observing natural plant and mycorrhizal colonization. The effects of microenvironmental amelioration by the nurse plants versus mycorrhizal inoculation can be separated by comparing plant growth near and at a distance from inoculated versus uninoculated nurse plants. The physiological response of the individual plants to mycorrhizae will be measured under controlled conditions. Many early to mid- seral plants have been reported to be both VA and ectomycorrhizal during succession on glacial till, and both types of fungi will be manipulated and observed.