RESEARCH STARTER GRANT: Effects of Altered Precipitation Patterns on Soil Fungal Communities and their Role in Soil Carbon Cycling

研究启动基金：降水模式改变对土壤真菌群落的影响及其在土壤碳循环中的作用克里斯汀·霍克斯，德克萨斯大学奥斯汀分校由于全球气温上升，预计区域降雨模式将发生巨大变化。由于降雨通常是生态群落和生态系统功能的主要控制因素，新的降雨模式可能产生深远的影响。在加州，模型预测当前的冬季雨季会有更多的降雨，或者雨季会延长到通常干燥的夏季。雨季的加剧和延长都可能以土壤真菌介导的方式影响植物和土壤。真菌是温带土壤中典型的优势微生物。它们在养分循环、土壤碳储存和土壤有机质形成中也起着关键作用；尽管所有这些功能都对土壤湿度很敏感。本研究的目的是确定强降雨和长降雨对土壤真菌群落组成和功能的影响，以及土壤真菌介导的碳库和通量的影响。分子方法和培养相结合将用于鉴定真菌；稳定同位素将用于追踪碳通过真菌进入生态系统的流动。目前仅鉴定出3%的土壤真菌，这项工作将提高我们对土壤真菌及其功能的认识。通过研究降雨模式变化、土壤真菌群落和土壤碳循环之间的机制联系，本研究也将为预测真菌在土壤碳储存中的未来能力提供基础。了解即将到来的环境变化的后果将有助于我们更好地为这种变化做好准备，并将有助于找到减轻任何负面影响的方法。

RESEARCH STARTER GRANT: Effects of altered precipitation patterns on soil fungal communities and their role in soil carbon cyclingChristine Hawkes, University of Texas at AustinLarge shifts in regional rainfall patterns are expected to occur as a consequence of rising global temperatures. Because rainfall is often a primary controller of ecological communities and ecosystem function, new rainfall patterns can have far-reaching effects. In California, models predict either more rain during the current winter rainy season or a longer rainy season that extends into the normally dry summer. Both intensified and extended rainy seasons are likely to affect plants and soils in ways that may be mediated by soil fungi. Fungi are typically the dominant microorganism in temperate soils. They also have key roles in nutrient recycling, soil carbon storage, and soil organic matter formation; though all of these functions are sensitive to soil wetness. The objectives of this proposal are to determine how intensified vs. extended rainfall will affect (1) soil fungal community composition and function, and (2) carbon pools and fluxes mediated by soil fungi. A combination of molecular methods and culturing will be used to identify fungi; stable isotopes will be used to trace the flow of carbon through fungi into the ecosystem.With only 3% of soil fungi identified, the proposed work will improve our knowledge of soil fungi and their function. By examining the mechanistic link between altered rainfall patterns, soil fungal communities, and soil carbon cycling, this research will also provide a basis for predicting the future capacity of fungi in soil carbon storage. Understanding the consequences of impending environmental change will help us to better prepare for that change and will contribute to the development of ways to ameliorate any negative impacts.