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

研究初学者格兰特：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德克萨斯大学奥斯汀分校的克里斯汀·霍克斯表示，由于全球气温上升，预计区域降雨模式将发生重大变化。由于降雨往往是生态群落和生态系统功能的主要控制者，新的降雨模式可能会产生深远的影响。在加利福尼亚州，模型预测，要么在当前的冬季雨季会有更多的降雨，要么会有更长的雨季延伸到通常干燥的夏季。雨季的加剧和延长都可能以土壤真菌为中介的方式影响植物和土壤。真菌通常是温带土壤中的优势微生物。它们还在养分循环、土壤碳储存和土壤有机质形成中发挥关键作用，尽管所有这些功能对土壤湿度都很敏感。这项建议的目标是确定强化降雨和延长降雨将如何影响(1)土壤真菌群落组成和功能，以及(2)土壤真菌介导的碳库和碳通量。将使用分子方法和培养相结合的方法来鉴定真菌；将使用稳定同位素来追踪通过真菌进入生态系统的碳流动。由于只有3%的土壤真菌被鉴定，拟议的工作将提高我们对土壤真菌及其功能的了解。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，这项研究也将为预测未来真菌在土壤碳储存中的能力提供基础。了解迫在眉睫的环境变化的后果将有助于我们更好地为这种变化做准备，并将有助于制定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.