Biocomplexity in Common Mycorrhizal Networks: RUI

加州大学戴维斯分校和里弗赛德分校以及南俄勒冈大学的研究人员将研究土壤资源的时空分布如何与菌根真菌和植物根系相互作用，形成地下网络（共同菌根网络，CMNs）。核心假设是碳和营养物质在CMNs中的流动并不完全由植物或真菌决定。流动的大小和方向由植物物种、菌根真菌物种和土壤资源之间的相互作用决定，而土壤资源的可用性在空间和时间上以复杂的方式变化。这三种成分中的任何一种发生变化都会导致CMN结构和功能的改变。研究人员预测，这3种成分的变化将显著改变真菌和植物物种组成和土壤资源分布，从而导致植物群落动态、土壤稳定性、养分循环速率和生态系统生产的长期变化。由生物科学理事会支助的各机构之间的研究活动将采用三种创新办法加以协调。这些措施包括学生和博士后研究人员在各机构之间轮岗，所有机构参与者的年度实地活动，以及传播信息的网站。这种方法将培养学生对复杂系统的广泛思考，以及将多种技能和工具应用于复杂问题的价值。这项研究将加强对加州橡树林地中橡树和草之间动态相互作用的理解，也许可以更成功地保护和恢复这些林地。通过比较模型系统中地上和地下的生物复杂性，研究人员希望了解地上和地下系统如何联系的一般原理。

Southworth9981337Researchers at the University of California at Davis and Riverside and from Southern Oregon University will examine how the spatial and temporal distributions of soil resources interact with mycorrhizal fungi and plant roots to form networks belowground (common mycorrhizal networks, CMNs). The central hypothesis is that flows of carbon and nutrients in CMNs are not wholly determined either by plants or fungi. The magnitude and direction of flows are determined by interactions between plant species, mycorrhizal fungal species and soil resources -- resources whose availability changes in complex ways in space and time. Changes in any one of the 3 components will result in altered CMN structure and function. The researchers predict that changes in the 3 components will significantly alter fungal and plant species composition and soil resource distribution, resulting in long-term changes in plant community dynamics, soil stability, nutrient cycling rates, and ecosystem production. Research activities, which are being supported by the Directorate for Biological Sciences, among institutions will be coordinated using three innovative approaches. These include student and post-doctoral researcher rotations among institutions, annual field campaigns integrating participants from all institutions, and web sites to disseminate information. This approach will train students to think broadly about complex systems and about the value of applying multiple skills and tools to complex problems.The research will enhance understanding of the dynamic interactions between oaks and grasses in oak woodlands in California, perhaps allowing more successful preservation and restoration of these woodlands. By comparing biocomplexity above and below-ground in a model system, the researchers expect to learn general principles about how above and below ground systems are linked.