Investigations of Ectomycorrhizal Guild Structure in Coastal Bishop Pine Forests

外生菌根真菌是大多数温带林木的共生共生体。它们与松树和橡树等树木的根部结合是树木正常生长和繁殖所必需的。这些真菌即使在一个地点也表现出高度的物种多样性。然而，目前人们对这种多样性的功能意义知之甚少。在这项研究中，研究人员将使用分子鉴定方法结合土芯采样、蘑菇测绘和实验操作来剖析沿海松林中这些真菌的群落结构。所使用的采样方案旨在揭示真菌物种组成在几个尺度上的空间和时间变化，并最终产生区域尺度上任何单一森林类型的外生菌根真菌群落的第一幅图景。菌根的分子鉴定方法将进一步完善，以便于广泛使用，并将适用于真菌个体的鉴定。后一层次的鉴定将使我们能够调查克隆大小并剖析选定真菌物种所采用的遗传策略。这项工作将有助于更好地了解这些真菌的基本生态学，并将为未来PINC生态系统的管理提供基础。

Ectomycorrhizal fungi are symbiotic associates of most temperature forest trees. Their association with the roots of trees such as pines and oaks is necessary for normal growth and reproduction of the trees. These fungi exhibit a high level of species diversity even at a single sit. Yet little is currently known about the functional significance of this diversity. %%% In this study researchers will use molecular identification methods in combination with soil core sampling, mushroom mapping, and experimental manipulations to dissect the community structure of these fungi in coastal pine forests. The sampling schemes used are designed to reveal the variation of fungal species composition in space and time at several scales, and will ultimately yield the first picture of ectomycorrhizal fungal communities in any single forest type on a regional scale. Methods for molecular identification of mycorrhizae will be further refined to facilitate widespread use and they will be adapted for the identification of fungal individuals. The latter level of identification will enable us to investigate clonal size and dissect the genetic strategies employed by selected fungal species. This work will result in a better understanding of the basic ecology of these fungi and will provide a basis for future management of pinc ecosystems.