Grazer-Mycorrhizal Interactions in Tallgrass Prairie: Effects on Carbon and Nitrogen Partitioning and Sequestration

虽然菌根共生（植物根和真菌的互惠协会）在自然界中是普遍存在的，但无论是菌根对碳和氮保持的影响，还是对土壤食物网和养分循环的影响，都没有得到很好的理解。 该项目旨在确定：1）菌根共生对C和N固存的作用; 2）地下食草动物对生物群落内C和N循环的影响; 3）固存C和养分有效性对土壤生物群的相互反馈。 计划的温室和田间研究将包括菌根真菌的实验操作，地下食草动物群落（线虫）和土壤养分的可用性。测量将包括跟踪通过植物/土壤系统的C和N流以及土壤生物群落的响应。更广泛的影响：本科生和研究生将参与可能会作为共同作者的出版物。结果将通过Konza Prairie生物站的游客日和当地公共广播电台的广播媒体研究更新公开展示。这些研究将提供地下生物群落内的相互作用如何影响C动态、N有效性以及C和N在土壤有机质中的固存，以及C和N动态变化对植物-真菌-食草动物相互作用的反馈效应等所需信息

Although mycorrhizal symbioses (mutualistic associations of plant roots and fungi) are ubiquitous in nature, neither the influences of mycorrhizae on carbon and nitrogen retention nor theier effects on soil food webs and nutrient cycling are well understood. This project is seeking to determine: 1) the role of mycorrhizal symbiosis on C and N sequestration; 2) the impact of belowground grazers on C and N cycling within the biotic communities; 3) the interactive feedbacks of sequestered C and nutrient availability on soil biota. Planned greenhouse and field studies will include experimental manipulations of mycorrhizal fungi, a belowground grazer community (nematodes), and soil nutrient availability. Measurements will include tracing C and N flow through the plant/soil systems and the responses of the soil biotic communities. Broader Impact: Undergraduate and graduate students will involved will likely serve as coauthors of publications. Results will be presented publicly through via Visitors' Days at the Konza Prairie Biological Station and via broadcast media research updates on a local public radio station. The proposed studies will provide needed information on how interactions within the belowground biotic community impact C dynamics, N availability, and sequestration of C and N into the soil organic matter, and on the feedback effects of changes in C and N dynamics on plant-fungal-grazer interactions