Importance of Soil, Stand, and Mycorrhizal Fungi in <i>Abies</i> <i>balsamea</i> Establishment in the Boreal Forest
<i>Research highlights</i>: To understand differences in the establishment of balsam fir regeneration observed in the boreal forest, we examined how soil layer and microorganisms explained differences in growth and mycorrhization in three different stand types. Our experiment revealed po...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2020-07-01
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| Series: | Forests |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/11/8/815 |
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| author | Mélissande Nagati Mélanie Roy Annie DesRochers Yves Bergeron Monique Gardes |
| author_facet | Mélissande Nagati Mélanie Roy Annie DesRochers Yves Bergeron Monique Gardes |
| author_sort | Mélissande Nagati |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <i>Research highlights</i>: To understand differences in the establishment of balsam fir regeneration observed in the boreal forest, we examined how soil layer and microorganisms explained differences in growth and mycorrhization in three different stand types. Our experiment revealed positive and negative effects on growth of seedlings, and highlights the importance of biotic interactions in balsam fir establishment. <i>Background and Objectives</i>: In a context of climate change, understanding tree migration can be examined through changes in tree regeneration. At the ecotone between mixed and conifer boreal forest, regeneration of balsam fir northward is of particular interest because it thrives better under aspen-dominated stands as compared to adjacent spruce-dominated stands. As the understorey differs between these stands, with more Ericaceae under spruce and different ectomycorrhizal fungal communities in organic and mineral horizons, we hypothesized that biotic factors could explain differences in balsam fir establishment. <i>Materials and Methods</i>: Using a growth chamber experiment, we tested if differences in soil layers and modification of soil fungal communities would affect germination, mycorrhization, and growth of balsam fir seedlings in three different stand vegetation. We compared 12 treatments and followed 120 seedlings over three growth seasons. <i>Results</i>: We found similar survival in soils from aspen- and spruce-dominated stands, and a greater biomass on organic layers. In addition to this, a greater mycorrhization rate was found in aspen soils but improved germination in spruce soils. The presence of Ericaceae in spruce soils was associated with lower mycorrhization but did not affect other traits. Sterilization and therefore microorganisms affected mainly the number of ectomycorrhizae and the investment in root biomass. Finally, mycorrhization and biomass were correlated, but independent from N nutrition measured in needles. <i>Conclusions</i>: Our results highlighted the positive effects of organic soil layers and of mycorrhization on biomass, and showed that mycorrhization was increased under aspen as compared to other stand types. Our experiment also revealed positive effects of spruce soil on fir germination and showed that fir was able to grow and survive in all conditions. Our study suggests that fir establishment is affected by belowground multi-species interactions, and therefore highlights that biotic interactions shall be taken into account to understand and predict future tree migrations in the boreal forest. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T18:10:36Z |
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| id | doaj.art-f24da24d672946f0af0c6550001b320f |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1999-4907 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T18:10:36Z |
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| series | Forests |
| spelling | doaj.art-f24da24d672946f0af0c6550001b320f2023-11-20T08:11:45ZengMDPI AGForests1999-49072020-07-0111881510.3390/f11080815Importance of Soil, Stand, and Mycorrhizal Fungi in <i>Abies</i> <i>balsamea</i> Establishment in the Boreal ForestMélissande Nagati0Mélanie Roy1Annie DesRochers2Yves Bergeron3Monique Gardes4Chaire Industrielle UQAM-UQAT en Aménagement Forestier Durable, Institut de Recherche sur les Forêts, Université du Québec en Abitibi-Témiscamingue, 445 Boul. de l’Université, Rouyn-Noranda, QC J9X 4E5, CanadaCNRS_IRD Laboratoire Evolution et Diversité Biologique, Université Paul Sabatier, UMR5174, 118 route de Narbonne, 31330 Toulouse, FranceChaire Industrielle UQAM-UQAT en Aménagement Forestier Durable, Institut de Recherche sur les Forêts, Université du Québec en Abitibi-Témiscamingue, 445 Boul. de l’Université, Rouyn-Noranda, QC J9X 4E5, CanadaChaire Industrielle UQAM-UQAT en Aménagement Forestier Durable, Institut de Recherche sur les Forêts, Université du Québec en Abitibi-Témiscamingue, 445 Boul. de l’Université, Rouyn-Noranda, QC J9X 4E5, CanadaCNRS_IRD Laboratoire Evolution et Diversité Biologique, Université Paul Sabatier, UMR5174, 118 route de Narbonne, 31330 Toulouse, France<i>Research highlights</i>: To understand differences in the establishment of balsam fir regeneration observed in the boreal forest, we examined how soil layer and microorganisms explained differences in growth and mycorrhization in three different stand types. Our experiment revealed positive and negative effects on growth of seedlings, and highlights the importance of biotic interactions in balsam fir establishment. <i>Background and Objectives</i>: In a context of climate change, understanding tree migration can be examined through changes in tree regeneration. At the ecotone between mixed and conifer boreal forest, regeneration of balsam fir northward is of particular interest because it thrives better under aspen-dominated stands as compared to adjacent spruce-dominated stands. As the understorey differs between these stands, with more Ericaceae under spruce and different ectomycorrhizal fungal communities in organic and mineral horizons, we hypothesized that biotic factors could explain differences in balsam fir establishment. <i>Materials and Methods</i>: Using a growth chamber experiment, we tested if differences in soil layers and modification of soil fungal communities would affect germination, mycorrhization, and growth of balsam fir seedlings in three different stand vegetation. We compared 12 treatments and followed 120 seedlings over three growth seasons. <i>Results</i>: We found similar survival in soils from aspen- and spruce-dominated stands, and a greater biomass on organic layers. In addition to this, a greater mycorrhization rate was found in aspen soils but improved germination in spruce soils. The presence of Ericaceae in spruce soils was associated with lower mycorrhization but did not affect other traits. Sterilization and therefore microorganisms affected mainly the number of ectomycorrhizae and the investment in root biomass. Finally, mycorrhization and biomass were correlated, but independent from N nutrition measured in needles. <i>Conclusions</i>: Our results highlighted the positive effects of organic soil layers and of mycorrhization on biomass, and showed that mycorrhization was increased under aspen as compared to other stand types. Our experiment also revealed positive effects of spruce soil on fir germination and showed that fir was able to grow and survive in all conditions. Our study suggests that fir establishment is affected by belowground multi-species interactions, and therefore highlights that biotic interactions shall be taken into account to understand and predict future tree migrations in the boreal forest.https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/11/8/815ectomycorrhizaetrembling aspenblack spruceEricaceaeseedbed |
| spellingShingle | Mélissande Nagati Mélanie Roy Annie DesRochers Yves Bergeron Monique Gardes Importance of Soil, Stand, and Mycorrhizal Fungi in <i>Abies</i> <i>balsamea</i> Establishment in the Boreal Forest Forests ectomycorrhizae trembling aspen black spruce Ericaceae seedbed |
| title | Importance of Soil, Stand, and Mycorrhizal Fungi in <i>Abies</i> <i>balsamea</i> Establishment in the Boreal Forest |
| title_full | Importance of Soil, Stand, and Mycorrhizal Fungi in <i>Abies</i> <i>balsamea</i> Establishment in the Boreal Forest |
| title_fullStr | Importance of Soil, Stand, and Mycorrhizal Fungi in <i>Abies</i> <i>balsamea</i> Establishment in the Boreal Forest |
| title_full_unstemmed | Importance of Soil, Stand, and Mycorrhizal Fungi in <i>Abies</i> <i>balsamea</i> Establishment in the Boreal Forest |
| title_short | Importance of Soil, Stand, and Mycorrhizal Fungi in <i>Abies</i> <i>balsamea</i> Establishment in the Boreal Forest |
| title_sort | importance of soil stand and mycorrhizal fungi in i abies i i balsamea i establishment in the boreal forest |
| topic | ectomycorrhizae trembling aspen black spruce Ericaceae seedbed |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/11/8/815 |
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