Investigations of Ectomycorrhizal Guild Structure in Coastal Bishop Pine Forests

外生菌根真菌是大多数植物的共生体， 温度森林树木 他们与 松树和橡树等树木是正常生长所必需的， 树木的繁殖。 这些真菌表现出高水平的 物种多样性，即使在一个单一的网站。 然而，目前 了解这种多样性的功能意义。 %%% 在这项研究中，研究人员将使用分子鉴定方法 结合土芯取样、蘑菇绘图， 实验操作来解剖群落结构， 这些真菌在沿海松林中。 使用的抽样方案是 旨在揭示真菌物种组成的变化， 空间和时间在几个尺度，并最终将产生 第一张外生菌根真菌群落的照片， 森林类型在区域范围内。 分子生物学方法 真菌的鉴定将进一步完善， 广泛使用，并将进行调整，以确定 真菌个体 后一级识别将使 我们调查克隆大小和剖析遗传策略 被选定的真菌物种所利用。 这项工作将导致一个 更好地了解这些真菌的基本生态学， 为今后管理太平洋岛屿国家理事会生态系统提供基础。

Ectomycorrhizal fungi are symbiotic associates of most temperature forest trees. Their association with the roots of trees such as pines and oaks is necessary for normal growth and reproduction of the trees. These fungi exhibit a high level of species diversity even at a single sit. Yet little is currently known about the functional significance of this diversity. %%% In this study researchers will use molecular identification methods in combination with soil core sampling, mushroom mapping, and experimental manipulations to dissect the community structure of these fungi in coastal pine forests. The sampling schemes used are designed to reveal the variation of fungal species composition in space and time at several scales, and will ultimately yield the first picture of ectomycorrhizal fungal communities in any single forest type on a regional scale. Methods for molecular identification of mycorrhizae will be further refined to facilitate widespread use and they will be adapted for the identification of fungal individuals. The latter level of identification will enable us to investigate clonal size and dissect the genetic strategies employed by selected fungal species. This work will result in a better understanding of the basic ecology of these fungi and will provide a basis for future management of pinc ecosystems.