Dimensions: Collaborative Research: Deconstructing diversity and ecosystem function at multiple spatial and genetic scales in a keystone plant-microbe symbiosis

这项工作将提供第一个大陆尺度的松树生态系统外生菌根真菌的分类、遗传和功能多样性样本。这些真菌与优势森林植物的根形成共生关系，并为它们提供营养和水，以换取光合作用固定碳。尽管外生菌根真菌在全球营养循环中的重要性，但人们对真菌群落结构与植物、动物甚至细菌的大规模模式知之甚少。该项目将建立北美地区多种外生菌根真菌的基因流动和选择模式，使用分层系统发育抽样设计来测量个体，群体和物种之间功能酶生产的变化，并使用基于RNA的宏基因组学来测量菌根根尖上功能性状的表达。该项目将产生一个大型的、开放获取的分类条形码和功能基因数据库，研究人员可以使用它来生成真菌生态系统的预测模型。它将包括在一个未被充分研究的领域培训研究生和博士后学者的尖端技术，将导致针对公众的外展活动，并将包括为K-12学生和教育工作者设计的活动，以培养早期学生对真菌的兴趣。

This work will provide the first continental-scale sample of taxonomic, genetic andfunctional diversity of ectomycorrhizal fungi from pine ecosystems. These fungi form symbiotic relationships with the roots of dominant forest plants, and provide them with nutrients and water in exchange for photosynthetically-fixed carbon. Despite the importance of ectomycorrhizal fungi in global nutrient cycles, little is known about large-scale patterns of fungal community structure relative to plants, animals, or even bacteria. This project will establish patterns of gene flow and selection for multiple ectomycorrhizal fungi across North America, use a hierarchical phylogenetic sampling design to measure variation in functional enzyme production across individuals, populations and species, and use RNA based metagenomics to measure functional trait expression on mycorrhizal root tips. The project will result in a large, open access database of taxonomic barcode and functional genes that can be used by researchers to generate predictive models of fungal ecosystems. It will include training of graduate students and postdoctoral scholars in cutting-edge techniques in an understudied field, will result in outreach activities targeted toward the general public, and will include activities for K-12 students and educators designed to foster early student interests in fungi.