Grazer-Mycorrhizal Interactions in Tallgrass Prairie: Effects on Carbon and Nitrogen Partitioning and Sequestration

尽管菌根共生（植物根和真菌的共生关系）在自然界中无处不在，但菌根对碳和氮保持的影响以及它们对土壤食物网和养分循环的影响都没有得到很好的理解。本项目旨在确定：1)菌根共生对碳氮固存的作用；2)地下食草动物对生物群落内碳氮循环的影响；3)固碳与养分有效性对土壤生物群的交互反馈。计划中的温室和实地研究将包括菌根真菌、地下食草动物群落（线虫）和土壤养分有效性的实验操作。测量将包括追踪C和N在植物/土壤系统中的流动以及土壤生物群落的反应。更广泛的影响：参与的本科生和研究生可能会成为出版物的共同作者。结果将通过康扎草原生物站的游客日和当地公共广播电台的广播媒体研究更新向公众公布。这些研究将为地下生物群落内部的相互作用如何影响C动态、N有效性和C和N在土壤有机质中的固存，以及C和N动态变化对植物-真菌-食草动物相互作用的反馈效应提供必要的信息

Although mycorrhizal symbioses (mutualistic associations of plant roots and fungi) are ubiquitous in nature, neither the influences of mycorrhizae on carbon and nitrogen retention nor theier effects on soil food webs and nutrient cycling are well understood. This project is seeking to determine: 1) the role of mycorrhizal symbiosis on C and N sequestration; 2) the impact of belowground grazers on C and N cycling within the biotic communities; 3) the interactive feedbacks of sequestered C and nutrient availability on soil biota. Planned greenhouse and field studies will include experimental manipulations of mycorrhizal fungi, a belowground grazer community (nematodes), and soil nutrient availability. Measurements will include tracing C and N flow through the plant/soil systems and the responses of the soil biotic communities. Broader Impact: Undergraduate and graduate students will involved will likely serve as coauthors of publications. Results will be presented publicly through via Visitors' Days at the Konza Prairie Biological Station and via broadcast media research updates on a local public radio station. The proposed studies will provide needed information on how interactions within the belowground biotic community impact C dynamics, N availability, and sequestration of C and N into the soil organic matter, and on the feedback effects of changes in C and N dynamics on plant-fungal-grazer interactions