Projectdetails

Biological diversity on Earth is currently rapidly declining. The losses are likely to have major consequences for the functioning and stability of terrestrial ecosystems. In order to sustain diversity the mechanisms which contribute to its conservation must be understood. Recently we showed that the diversity of one group of symbiotic and mutualistic micro-organisms, the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, greatly enhanced plant diversity in grassland ecosystems (Nature 396: 69-72). This breakthrough in the study of the regulation of plant diversity may be the starting point of a new series of exciting discoveries. Here it is proposed to build upon that study by investigating how ecosystem functioning and biodiversity depends on the interactive effects of three important groups of microbial symbionts. These are the nitrogen fixing rhizobial symbionts of legumes, the ectomycorrhizal fungal associates of shrubs and trees and the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal symbionts of many glasses and forbs. It is hypothesized that each group of microbial symbionts plays a key role in maintaining diversity in the selected ecosystems. It is further hypothesized that the co-occurrence of different symbionts stimulates ecosystem functioning (e.g. enhances nutrient capture and productivity) since they can act synergistically and supply different types of limiting nutrients to the plants. To test these hypotheses semi-natural ecosystems will be constructed under controlled conditions and the presence, composition and diversity of the different groups of mutualistic symbionts will be manipulated and their effects upon plant diversity and ecosystem functioning will be investigated.

Artikelen

• Different arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi alter coexistence and resource distribution between co-occurring plants.. pp. 569-578.
• Dr. ir. M.G.A. van der Heijden (2003). Fungi in Ecosystem Processes (book review). . pp. 287-288.
• Dr. ir. M.G.A. van der Heijden (2004). Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi as support systems for seedling establishment in grassland.. pp. 293-303.
• A. Brader, Dr. ir. M.G.A. van der Heijden, Drs. T.R. Scheublin (2004). Taxonomic and functional diversity in arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi - is there any relationship?. pp. 201-204.
• K. Ridgway, Dr. ir. M.G.A. van der Heijden, Drs. T.R. Scheublin, Prof. dr. J.P.W. Young (2004). Non-legumes, legumes, and root nodules harbor different arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal communities.. pp. 6240-6246.

Congresbijdragen

• Dr. ir. M.G.A. van der Heijden (2004). Networks of power and influence: the role of mycorrhizal fungi for the ecology and evolution of plant communities..
• Dr. ir. M.G.A. van der Heijden (2004). The mycorrhizal contribution to plant diversity, productivity and soil structure in grassland..

Proefschriften

• (2006). Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungal Symbiosis in Grassland.