Morphological and molecular examinations of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi found in urban, suburban and rural forests.

Dr. Vanessa B. Beauchamp and Dr. Roland P. Roberts

Many studies have shown that biological diversity, community composition and species abundance can be dramatically altered in urban ecosystems when compared to biological communities in surrounding areas. The richness of some taxa, including mammals, birds, butterflies and lizards, has decreased in urban areas, while richness of other groups, including plants and arthropods has increased due to introduction of non-indigenous taxa and an increase in resources. One of the reasons for a reduction in native plant diversity and an increase in exotic plant species in urban environments may be a decrease in richness or diversity of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF). AMF are soil fungi that form associations with the roots of most plant species. These fungi provide plants with relatively immobile soil nutrients, such as phosphorus, in exchange for carbon from photosynthesis. Very little is known about the impact of urbanization on AMF abundance, diversity or community structure, but some studies suggest that urbanization is associated with changes to AMF community structure and a reduction in species richness and fungal activity. This study will use both morphological and molecular methods to examine the AMF communities associated with urban, suburban and rural forests around Baltimore, Maryland. Students participating in this project will be involved in sampling soil at approximately 15 research sites around Baltimore. Students will also participate in setting up trap cultures to amplify fungal propagules and will learn techniques involved in isolating and identifying fungal spores. In the laboratory, students will be involved in extraction and amplification of fungal DNA from plant roots and characterization of fungal communities using T-RFLP analysis and sequencing of clones. Comparisons of AMF communities in urban, suburban, and rural settings can provide insight into the ecological behavior of the fungi, which can then serve as a guide for recommending species likely to be useful for particular applications, such as restoration of urban forests.