Drought increases the frequencies of fungal functional genes related to carbon and nitrogen acquisition.

ABSTRACT: Although water is a critical resource for organisms, microbially-mediated processes such as decomposition and nitrogen (N) transformations can endure within ecosystems even when water is scarce. To identify underlying mechanisms, we examined the genetic potential for fungi to contribute to specific aspects of carbon (C) and N cycling in a drought manipulation in Southern California grassland. In particular, we measured the frequency of fungal functional genes encoding enzymes that break down cellulose and chitin, and take up ammonium and amino acids, in decomposing litter. Furthermore, we used "microbial cages" to reciprocally transplant litter and microbes between control and drought plots. This approach allowed us to distinguish direct effects of drought in the plot environment versus in

SUBMITTER: Treseder KK 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6248904 | biostudies-literature | 2018

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature