Functional diversity of mycorrhizal fungi along a tropical land-use gradient (B07)

• Subject Area: Ecology and Biodiversity of Plants and Ecosystems
• Term: from 2012 to 2019
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 192626868

Roots and their associated fungal microbiomes influence biogeochemical cycle, but their role in tropical ecosystems is barely understood. Here, we found that intensive land transformation from highly diverse rain forests into rubber jungle, rubber plantations and oil palm monocultures affected root community traits and that these alterations were correlated with changes in litter and soil properties. To establish functional links between fungal diversity, root nutrient uptake and ecosystem functions, we will study the taxonomic and functional diversity in the fungal microbiome in response to litter variation, plant species richness and ecological conditions.

• DFG Programme: Collaborative Research Centres
• Subproject of: SFB 990: Ecological and Socioeconomic Functions of Tropical Lowland Rainforest Transformation Systems (Sumatra, Indonesia)
• Applicant Institution: Georg-August-Universität Göttingen
• Project Head: Professorin Dr. Andrea Polle