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Harvard Forest REU Symposium Abstract 2013

  • Title: Species-specific differences in fine root and mycorrhizal phenology
  • Author: Arline D Gould (University of Rhode Island)
  • Abstract:

    In temperate forests, soil is potentially the largest and most long standing carbon sink. Fine root turnover is largely responsible for belowground C inputs, transferring much of the C allotted during seasonal growth into the soil via root mortality and exudation. An integral and even lesser understood portion of this cycle is the role of symbiotic fungi in delivering nutrients from the soil to plants as well as converting decaying plant material into soil. Utilizing the minirhizotron camera for in situ observation of roots and mycorrhizae, we will determine the varying seasonal patterns of root and mycorrhizal growth across stands dominated by Fraxinus americana, Tsuga canadensis, and Quercus rubra. The images captured with the minirhizotron will be analyzed using the open source software program, Rootfly. Preliminary analysis of 2012 minirhizotron data shows that there are differences in timing of root production between Quercus rubra and Tsuga canadensis. Full analysis will allow for a broader comparison of arbuscular (F. americana) versus ectomycorrhizal (T. canadensis, Q. rubra) dominated soils. Understanding the abundance, phenology, and functional roles of fine roots and symbiotic mycorrhizae is critical for understanding the controls on belowground C cycling. A more accurate description of seasonality in temperate forest soils will, in turn, provide a clearer picture of the impending effects of climate change.

  • Research Category: Soil Carbon and Nitrogen Dynamics

  • Figures:
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