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规模的样本的分类，遗传和功能多样性的外生菌根真菌从松树生态系统。这些真菌与主要森林植物的根部形成共生关系，并为它们提供养分和水，以换取光合作用固定的碳。尽管外生菌根真菌在全球营养循环中的重要性，但对真菌群落结构相对于植物，动物甚至细菌的大规模模式知之甚少。该项目将建立北美多种外生菌根真菌的基因流和选择模式，使用分层系统发育抽样设计来测量个体，种群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的功能性状表达。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，可供研究人员用于生成真菌生态系统的预测模型。它将包括研究生和博士后学者在未充分研究领域的尖端技术培训，将导致针对公众的推广活动，并将包括K-12学生和教育工作者的活动，旨在培养学生对真菌的早期兴趣。

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.