A model for optimal mycorrhizal colonization along altitudinal gradients
Mycorrhizal associations are generally favourable for vascular plants in nutrient-poor conditions. Still, non-mycorrhizal plants are common in high arctic and alpine areas, which are often poor in nitrogen and phosphorus. The relative proportion of mycorrhizal plants has been found to decrease along...
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ftdoajarticles:oai:doaj.org/article:ccb3c81e58794c07add677e7072ac05e 2023-05-15T15:13:56+02:00 A model for optimal mycorrhizal colonization along altitudinal gradients Ruotsalainen, Anna Tuomi, Juha Väre, Henry 2002-01-01T00:00:00Z https://doi.org/10.14214/sf.533 https://doaj.org/article/ccb3c81e58794c07add677e7072ac05e EN eng Finnish Society of Forest Science https://www.silvafennica.fi/article/533 https://doaj.org/toc/2242-4075 2242-4075 doi:10.14214/sf.533 https://doaj.org/article/ccb3c81e58794c07add677e7072ac05e Silva Fennica, Vol 36, Iss 3 (2002) Forestry SD1-669.5 article 2002 ftdoajarticles https://doi.org/10.14214/sf.533 2022-12-31T13:40:38Z Mycorrhizal associations are generally favourable for vascular plants in nutrient-poor conditions. Still, non-mycorrhizal plants are common in high arctic and alpine areas, which are often poor in nitrogen and phosphorus. The relative proportion of mycorrhizal plants has been found to decrease along with increasing altitude, suggesting that the advantage of the mycorrhizal symbiosis may change along an altitudinal gradient. This may be related to the environmental factors that possibly constrain the amount of photosynthesized carbon to be shared with mycorrhizal fungi. We propose a simple optimization model for root colonization by fungal symbionts and analyze the advantages of mycorrhizas in relation to the nutrient use efficiency of photosynthesis (PNUE), the kinetics of nutrient uptake and the soil nutrient levels. Our model suggests that mycorrhizas are not usually favoured at low PNUE values. At low nutrient levels, mycorrhizas may be advantageous if they have a lower threshold concentration of nutrient uptake (xmin) compared to non-mycorrhizal roots. If mycorrhizal roots have a higher maximum capacity of nutrient uptake (Vmax), mycorrhizas can be favourable for the host plant even at relatively low nutrient concentrations and at relatively low PNUE. Consequently, the possible patterns along altitudinal gradients essentially depend on PNUE. If the soil nutrient concentration is constant and PNUE decreases, the advantage of mycorrhizal symbiosis declines independently of the nutrient uptake kinetics. If PNUE remains constant and the soil nutrient concentration decreases along with increasing altitude, the emerging colonization pattern (either increasing, decreasing or intermediate) depends on the nutrient uptake kinetics. Additionally, if both PNUE and the soil nutrient concentration decrease, several patterns may emerge, depending on the nutrient uptake kinetics. Article in Journal/Newspaper Arctic Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles Arctic Silva Fennica 36 3 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles |
op_collection_id |
ftdoajarticles |
language |
English |
topic |
Forestry SD1-669.5 |
spellingShingle |
Forestry SD1-669.5 Ruotsalainen, Anna Tuomi, Juha Väre, Henry A model for optimal mycorrhizal colonization along altitudinal gradients |
topic_facet |
Forestry SD1-669.5 |
description |
Mycorrhizal associations are generally favourable for vascular plants in nutrient-poor conditions. Still, non-mycorrhizal plants are common in high arctic and alpine areas, which are often poor in nitrogen and phosphorus. The relative proportion of mycorrhizal plants has been found to decrease along with increasing altitude, suggesting that the advantage of the mycorrhizal symbiosis may change along an altitudinal gradient. This may be related to the environmental factors that possibly constrain the amount of photosynthesized carbon to be shared with mycorrhizal fungi. We propose a simple optimization model for root colonization by fungal symbionts and analyze the advantages of mycorrhizas in relation to the nutrient use efficiency of photosynthesis (PNUE), the kinetics of nutrient uptake and the soil nutrient levels. Our model suggests that mycorrhizas are not usually favoured at low PNUE values. At low nutrient levels, mycorrhizas may be advantageous if they have a lower threshold concentration of nutrient uptake (xmin) compared to non-mycorrhizal roots. If mycorrhizal roots have a higher maximum capacity of nutrient uptake (Vmax), mycorrhizas can be favourable for the host plant even at relatively low nutrient concentrations and at relatively low PNUE. Consequently, the possible patterns along altitudinal gradients essentially depend on PNUE. If the soil nutrient concentration is constant and PNUE decreases, the advantage of mycorrhizal symbiosis declines independently of the nutrient uptake kinetics. If PNUE remains constant and the soil nutrient concentration decreases along with increasing altitude, the emerging colonization pattern (either increasing, decreasing or intermediate) depends on the nutrient uptake kinetics. Additionally, if both PNUE and the soil nutrient concentration decrease, several patterns may emerge, depending on the nutrient uptake kinetics. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Ruotsalainen, Anna Tuomi, Juha Väre, Henry |
author_facet |
Ruotsalainen, Anna Tuomi, Juha Väre, Henry |
author_sort |
Ruotsalainen, Anna |
title |
A model for optimal mycorrhizal colonization along altitudinal gradients |
title_short |
A model for optimal mycorrhizal colonization along altitudinal gradients |
title_full |
A model for optimal mycorrhizal colonization along altitudinal gradients |
title_fullStr |
A model for optimal mycorrhizal colonization along altitudinal gradients |
title_full_unstemmed |
A model for optimal mycorrhizal colonization along altitudinal gradients |
title_sort |
model for optimal mycorrhizal colonization along altitudinal gradients |
publisher |
Finnish Society of Forest Science |
publishDate |
2002 |
url |
https://doi.org/10.14214/sf.533 https://doaj.org/article/ccb3c81e58794c07add677e7072ac05e |
geographic |
Arctic |
geographic_facet |
Arctic |
genre |
Arctic |
genre_facet |
Arctic |
op_source |
Silva Fennica, Vol 36, Iss 3 (2002) |
op_relation |
https://www.silvafennica.fi/article/533 https://doaj.org/toc/2242-4075 2242-4075 doi:10.14214/sf.533 https://doaj.org/article/ccb3c81e58794c07add677e7072ac05e |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.14214/sf.533 |
container_title |
Silva Fennica |
container_volume |
36 |
container_issue |
3 |
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1766344435686178816 |