RUI: Ectomycorrhizal functioning and specificity in a global tri-partite symbiosis

与植物根系相关的真菌在几乎所有的陆地生态系统中发挥着重要的生态作用，然而，决定哪些种类的菌根真菌与特定植物相关的因素仍然知之甚少。该项目将测试的假设，即独特的组成和低多样性的真菌与植物在桤木属是由固氮Frankia细菌的存在。该研究将包括利用一系列分子和生物化学技术的田间、实验室和培养实验，通过关注外生菌根真菌的酶能力以及它们在不同营养环境中的生长，明确研究宿主植物选择和环境条件在构建菌根组合中的相对重要性。在菌根真菌的生态学研究中存在着强烈的温带偏见，在墨西哥进行的拟议研究将揭示在温带地区观察到的模式是否也存在于热带地区。更广泛地说，这项研究将突出理解共生在其生态环境中的重要性，其中多个同时发生的相互作用可以显着影响个人成对的结果。该项目将建设科学基础设施和教育。实地和实验室分析的结合将使博士后研究人员和本科生研究助理接触到广泛的研究技术。与法国和墨西哥的调查人员直接合作将为科学和文化交流提供极好的机会。最后，该提案将涉及与高中生物教师的合作，这将导致一个关于植物-微生物共生及其在美国太平洋西北部森林中的重要性的教学模块。

Fungi associated with plant roots play major ecological roles in nearly every terrestrial ecosystem, however, the factors that determine what species of mycorrhizal fungi are associated with a particular plant remain poorly understood. This project will test the hypothesis that the unique composition and low diversity of fungi associated with plants in the genus Alnus are driven by the presence of nitrogen-fixing Frankia bacteria. The research will involve field, lab, and culture-based experiments that utilize a range of molecular and biochemical techniques.By focusing on the enzymatic capacities of ectomycorrhizal fungi as well as their growth in different nutrient settings, the research will explicitly examine the relative importance of host-plant selection and environment conditions in the structuring of mycorrhizal assemblages. There has been a strong temperate bias in ecological studies of mycorrhizal fungi, and proposed research in Mexico will reveal whether patterns observed in temperate areas are also present in a tropical region. More broadly, this research will highlight the importance of understanding symbioses in their ecological context, where multiple simultaneous interactions can significantly influence individual pair-wise outcomes. This project will build both scientific infrastructure and education. The combination of field and lab-based analyses will expose a post-doctoral researcher and undergraduate research assistants to a wide range of research techniques. Direct collaboration with investigators in France and Mexico will provide excellent opportunities for scientific and cultural exchange. Finally, the proposal will involve a collaboration with a high school biology teacher, which will result in a teaching module about plant-microbial symbioses and their importance in Pacific Northwest, USA forests.