Increased fungal diversity associated with Aphaenogaster spp. : more evidence for keystone mutualisms
- WCU Author/Contributor (non-WCU co-authors, if there are any, appear on document)
- Bridget Yvette Nelson (Creator)
- Institution
- Western Carolina University (WCU )
- Web Site: http://library.wcu.edu/
- Advisor
- Seán O’Connell
Abstract: Food webs in Southern Appalachian forest soils are complex. Because of
climate uncertainty, it is imperative that we gain a baseline understanding of the
nutrient fluxes associated with each trophic level of the forest ecosystem. Microbial
carbon deposition and respiration are responsible for large portions of the soil
carbon flux but there is little research detailing microbial interactions with soil macrofauna.
This study examines the effect of Aphaenogaster ants on soil microbial
diversity. These ants participate in a keystone mutualism with a guild of
myrmecochorous plants in Southern Appalachian forests. The data presented here
demonstrate that Aphaenogaster interactions extend beyond the guild of herbaceous
plants. Fungal diversity increases in ant nest soil relative to bulk soil (p = 0.028).
Elucidating the ecology of Aphaenogaster spp. could be a key to understanding
nutrition webs in the deciduous forests of eastern North America.
Increased fungal diversity associated with Aphaenogaster spp. : more evidence for keystone mutualisms
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Created on 3/1/2012
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Additional Information
- Publication
- Thesis
- Language: English
- Date: 2012
- Keywords
- Aphaenogaster, Fungi, Mutualisms
- Subjects
- Soil microbial ecology -- Appalachian Region, Southern
- Soil microbial ecology -- North Carolina, Western
- Ants -- Ecology -- Appalachian Region, Southern
- Ants -- Ecology -- North Carolina, Western
- Fungal communities -- Appalachian Region, Southern
- Fungal communities -- North Carolina, Western
- Mutualism (Biology) -- Appalachian Region, Southern
- Mutualism (Biology) -- North Carolina, Western