Question

Suzanne Simard and colleagues knew that the same mycorrhizal fungal species could colonize multiple types of trees. They wondered if the same fungal individual would colonize different trees, forming an underground network that potentially could transport carbon and nutrients from one tree to another (S. Simard et al. 1997. Net transfer of carbon between mycorrhizal tree species in the field. Nature 388: 579-82 ). Pots containing seedlings of three different tree species were set up and grown under natural conditions for three years (Fig. A). Two of the three species (Douglas fir, birch) could form ectomycorrhizal connections with the same fungal species, but the third species (cedar) could not form an ectomycorrhizal connection with the fungal species. In some of the pots, the researchers placed airtight bags over the Douglas fir and birch seedlings and injected carbon dioxide made from carbon-13 into the bags with the Douglas fir and carbon dioxide made from carbon- 14 into the bags with the birch. ¹³C and ¹⁴C are different isotopes of carbon that can be detected and measured by researchers.) As the seedlings photosynthesized, the carbon dioxide was converted into sugars that could be tracked and measured by the researchers. The researchers measured whether the sugars in each plant contained only the carbon isotope that was in the air of their plastic bag or also the carbon isotope from the air around the other plant. Referring to Simard et al. (1997), which design element is the control in this experiment and why? A. the bags over the seedlings to contain the different types of carbon dioxide B. the fact that all the seedlings are different species C. the cedar seedling, because it is not bagged D. the cedar seedling, because it does not form ectomycorrhizal connections with the tested fungus

Answer 1

D) the cedar seedling, because it does not form ectomycorrhizal connections with the tested fungus, is the correct answer.

What are Ectomycorrhiza?

Ectomycorrhizal (ECM) fungi form mutualistic symbioses with many tree species and are regarded as key organisms in nutrient and carbon cycles in forest ecosystems.

Our appreciation of their roles in these processes is hampered by a lack of understanding of their soil-borne mycelial systems.

These mycelia represent the vegetative thalli of ECM fungi that link carbon-yielding tree roots with soil nutrients, yet we remain largely ignorant of their distribution, dynamics and activities in forest soils.

These approaches have the potential to provide unprecedented insights into the functioning of ECM mycelia at the ecosystem level, particularly in the context of land-use changes and global climate change.

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