Grazing by collembola controls fungal induced soil aggregation

TY - JOUR

T1 - Grazing by collembola controls fungal induced soil aggregation

AU - Hannula, S. Emilia

AU - Jongen, Renske

AU - Morriën, Elly

N1 - Data archiving: Data with publication

PY - 2023/10

Y1 - 2023/10

N2 - Fungi affect soil aggregation and hence soil structure. Soil aggregation by saprotrophic fungi has been linked to various fungal traits but not tested during interactions with other organisms such as grazing soil fauna. Here we investigated how fungal identity and traits such as mycelial extension rate and biomass production affect aggregation across 49 fungal species isolated from sandy soils with different land uses. We tested each fungus and its effect on aggregation in the presence and absence of a grazer (Folsomia candida). We show that fungal species vary widely in their ability to aggregate soil, that the ability to aggregate soil was not phylogenetically conserved and the best trait predictor for aggregation was mycelial extension rate. Moreover, we show that the interactions between fungi and collembola affect the ability of fungi to aggregate soils. We conclude that identity of fungal species and their interaction with grazers affects soil aggregation and thus soil structure.

AB - Fungi affect soil aggregation and hence soil structure. Soil aggregation by saprotrophic fungi has been linked to various fungal traits but not tested during interactions with other organisms such as grazing soil fauna. Here we investigated how fungal identity and traits such as mycelial extension rate and biomass production affect aggregation across 49 fungal species isolated from sandy soils with different land uses. We tested each fungus and its effect on aggregation in the presence and absence of a grazer (Folsomia candida). We show that fungal species vary widely in their ability to aggregate soil, that the ability to aggregate soil was not phylogenetically conserved and the best trait predictor for aggregation was mycelial extension rate. Moreover, we show that the interactions between fungi and collembola affect the ability of fungi to aggregate soils. We conclude that identity of fungal species and their interaction with grazers affects soil aggregation and thus soil structure.

KW - Collembola

KW - Folsomia candida

KW - Fungal traits

KW - Soil aggregation

KW - Soil fungi

U2 - 10.1016/j.funeco.2023.101284

DO - 10.1016/j.funeco.2023.101284

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:85169900892

SN - 1754-5048

VL - 65

JO - Fungal Ecology

JF - Fungal Ecology

M1 - 101284

ER -