Ectomycorrhizal fungi in the NITREX site at Gardsjon, Sweden; below and above-ground responses to experimentally-changed nitrogen inputs 1990-1995

Changes in the ectomycorrhizal fungus flora were studied in connection with nitrogen addition and removal experiments in a Norway spruce forest at G (a) over circle rdsjon, W Sweden during a 5-year period. The above-ground ectomycorrhizal fruit body production was recorded from permanent transect plots, and the below-ground mycorrhizal fine-roots density and morphotype differentiation were studied from soil core samples from the surface root layer. The experiments were performed by adding N-enriched and N-free water, respectively, by means of sprinkling systems. Ammonium nitrate (about 35 kg N ha(-1) yr(-1)) was added to catchment G2 NITREX, whereas at adjacent catchment G1 ROOF ambient N deposition was removed by means of a roof. The addition of N led to a rapid and substantial decrease in species diversity and fruit body production of most species in the NITREX catchment, representing one of very few biological responses to the treatments at G (a) over circle rdsjon. Stress-intolerant groups such as the initially-dominant genus Cortinarius were almost absent after 5 yr of N addition. Only one dominant species (Cantharellus tubaeformis) increased fruit body production after treatment. In the nitrogen removal (G1 ROOF) experiment, the fruit body production increased strongly the first years, but then declined. No response in the below-ground mycorrhiza and fine-root density and diversity was found. All fine roots had developed ectomycorrhiza. The difference in response above ground and below ground indicates that: (1) the fruit-body producing macrofungi play a minor role below ground, and that (2) there is probably a considerable time-lag in the mycorrhizal fine-root versus fruit body production response to enhanced N levels. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V.