Direct Va Mycorrhizal Inoculation of Colonizing Plants by Pocket Gophers (Thomomys Talpoides) on Mount St. Helens

Thuja plicata exclusion in ectomycorrhiza-dominated forests: testing the role of inoculum potential of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi

“…First, the spores of AM fungi are much larger than spores of ectomycorrhizal fungi (100 lm or larger versus 10 lm, respectively) (Fitter 1992). Second, most AM fungal propagules disperse through passive movement within the soil (Brundrett and Abbott 1994, but see Allen and Macmahon 1988;Allen et al 1992;Gehring et al 2002) and AM do not have anastomosing hyphae, which are also much finer and smaller in extent than ectomycorrhizal mycelia (Miller and Allen 1992;Read 1992). Thus, robust mycelial connections covering a large area are not likely.…”

Animal’s Functional Role in the Landscape

“…2.6.1.1 ). As the old soil contained mycorrhizal fungi, mycorrhizal associations could gradually recover and improve growing conditions for the plants re-colonizing the area (Andersen and MacMahon 1985 ;Allen and MacMahon 1988 ;Allen 1991 ;Allen and Grisafulli 1994 ).…”

“…2.55 ). As the old soil, which was brought to the surface after the tephra had cooled, contained original viable mycorrhizal fungi, conditions for plant growth improved (Allen et al 1984 ;Andersen and MacMahon 1985 ;Allen and Grisafulli 1994 ) and a new organic horizon developed. In western Colorado, pocket gopher mounds were found that consisted of volcanic ash mixed with top soil, whereas eskers and soils devoid of gophers did not contain ash, and so were not affected by bioturbation (Hansen and Morris 1968 ).…”

“…Broadleaf lupine ( Lupinus latifolius ) and western pearly everlasting ( Anaphalis margaritacea ) colonized the mounds, where they profi ted from inoculation with mycorrhizal fungi from the old soil buried under tephra. Mycorrhization of their roots was much better than on sites without mound material, and, in addition, fungi spores were more numerous in the mounds (Andersen 1982 ;Allen et al 1984 ;Andersen and MacMahon 1985 ;Allen and Grisafulli 1994 ).…”

An Experimental Test of Epi- and Endozoochory of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi Spores by Small Mammals in a Maryland Forest

“…St. Helens, WA, aerial-spore traps only collected arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) spores near Thomomys talpoides Richardson (Pocket Gopher) mounds (Allen 1987). When Pocket Gophers were placed in enclosures, plants within the fencing became inoculated with AMF whereas plants immediately outside the enclosures remained AMF free (Allen and MacMahon 1988). However, the dispersal mechanism may have been Pocket Gophers bringing buried spores to the surface where spores were then dispersed by the wind (Allen 1987).…”