Mycorrhizal diversity and effects on brittlebush in a Sonoran desert urban ecosystem
Author(s):
- Robert Bills, Urban Horticulture Program, Arizona State University
- Jean Stutz
Abstract:
In this study, the functioning of AM fungi in brittlebush (Encelia farinosa A. Gray ex Torr.) grown at an urban site and a desert site are compared. E. farinosa is a native, desert shrub commonly found in the Sonoran Desert surrounding Phoenix and used as an ornamental shrub in residential and commercial sites in the Phoenix metropolitan area. Because this shrub is common in urban and desert areas, it can be used to compare AM fungal colonization levels between these areas.
In addition, the impact of AM fungi on E. farinosa growth and reproductive output was studied by attempting to manipulate the levels of AM fungal colonization using the fungicide methyl-1-(butyl-carbamoyl)-2-benzimidazole (benomyl). This fungicide has been shown to suppress colonization of roots by AM fungi with little phytotoxicity or effect on soil nutrients (Fitter and Nichols 1988; Hartnett and Wilson 2002). Hartnett and Wilson (2002) stated that the best method available to assess the roles and functions of AM fungi in natural communities is through the use of fungicides such as benomyl. Treatment with benomyl should allow for comparisons between plants that have typical levels of mycorrhizal colonization and those with lower, suppressed levels of colonization.
The impact of AM fungi on the productivity of brittlebush plants was examined at an urban and desert site. Fungal colonization was greater at the desert site but biomass and reproductive output was higher at the urban site. When mycorrhizal colonization was suppressed, plants had greater vegetative growth, but there was no effect on reproductive output.
Keywords:
Temporal Coverage:
2004-01-01 to 2005-12-31Geographic Coverage:
Geographic Description: Phoenix metropolitan area in Arizona, USABounding Coordinates:
Longitude:-111.93995 to -111.61515
Latitude:33.4784 to 33.46495
Contact:
Information Manager,Global Institute of Sustainability,Arizona State University,POB 875402,Tempe
caplter.data@asu.edu
Methods used in producing this dataset: Show
Data Files (6) :
Tabular: 114_colonization_1.csv
Description: degree of mycorrhiza colonization of roots
Column | Description | Type | Units |
---|---|---|---|
sample_id | Unique number identifying the sample |
integer | |
site_id | Identification of the sites sampled during this
study. |
string | |
exclusion_id | This identifies whether the data has been excluded (EY) or
not (EN). |
string |
Enumeration:
|
water_id | This describes the watering of the sample plant as not
watered (WN) or watered (WY). |
string |
Enumeration:
|
benomyl_id | This indecates whether benomyl fungicide was used (BY) or
not (BN). |
string |
Enumeration:
|
plant_id | Identifies each sampled plant. |
string | |
zero_hits | count of root segments without trace of
mycorrhiza |
integer | dimensionless |
hyphae_perc | Percent of root segments with hyphae
found. |
float | dimensionless |
vesicle_perc | Percent of root segments with vesicles
found. |
float | dimensionless |
arbuscules_perc | Percent of root segments with arbuscules
found. |
float | dimensionless |
coil_perc | Percent of root segments with coil
found |
float | dimensionless |
num_root_segments | Number of tested root segments. |
integer | dimensionless |
dse_perc | Percent of DSE |
float | dimensionless |
Tabular: 114_dry_seeds_1.csv
Description: dry mass of seeds produced
Column | Description | Type | Units |
---|---|---|---|
sample_id | Unique numbers identifying the
samples. |
integer | |
site_id | Identification of the sites sampled during this
study. |
string | |
exclusion_id | Identifies whether the sample has been excuded (EY) or not
(EN). |
string |
Enumeration:
|
water_id | This describes the watering of the sample plant as not
watered (WN) or watered (WY). |
string |
Enumeration:
|
benomyl_id | This indecates whether benomyl fungicide was used (BY) or
not (BN). |
string |
Enumeration:
|
plant_id | Unique identification of the plants sampled in this
study. |
string | |
seed_mass | Mass of the seeds per plant |
float | gram |
Tabular: 114_leaf_area_1.csv
Description: leaf area measurements
Column | Description | Type | Units |
---|---|---|---|
sample_id | Unique numbers identifying samples. |
integer | |
site_id | Identification of the sites sampled during this
study. |
string | |
exclusion_id | Indicates whether the sample has been excluded (EY) or not
(EN). |
string |
Enumeration:
|
water_id | This describes the watering of the sample plant as not
watered (WN) or watered (WY). |
string |
Enumeration:
|
benomyl_id | This indecates whether benomyl fungicide was used (BY) or
not (BN). |
string |
Enumeration:
|
plant_id | Identification of the sampled plants. |
string | |
leaf_id | Identification of the leaves measured on the sampled
plant. |
integer | |
aug_04_leaf_area | Leaf area measured in August of 2004 |
float | squareCentimeters |
oct_04_leaf_area | Leaf area measured in October of
2004. |
float | squareCentimeters |
feb_05_leaf_area | Leaf area measured in February of
2005. |
float | squareCentimeters |
apr_05_leaf_area | Leaf area measured in April of 2005. |
float | squareCentimeters |
jun_05_leaf_area | Leaf area measured in June of 2005. |
float | squareCentimeters |
Tabular: 114_plant_growth_1.csv
Description: Plant growth measurements
Column | Description | Type | Units |
---|---|---|---|
sample_id | Unique identification numbers of the samples
taken. |
integer | |
site_id | Identification of the sites sampled during this
study. |
string | |
exclusion_id | Indecates whether the sample has been excluded (EY) or not
(EN). |
string |
Enumeration:
|
water_id | This describes the watering of the sample plant as not
watered (WN) or watered (WY). |
string |
Enumeration:
|
benomyl_id | This indecates whether benomyl fungicide was used (BY) or
not (BN). |
string |
Enumeration:
|
plant_id | Unique plant identification. |
string | |
jul_04_height | Measured height in July of 2004 |
float | centimeter |
jul_04_width | Measured width in July of 2004 |
float | centimeter |
oct_04_height | Measured height in October of 2004 |
float | centimeter |
oct_04_width | Measured width in October of 2004 |
float | centimeter |
feb_05_clipp_height | Measured height in February of 2005 after
clipping |
float | centimeter |
feb_05_clipp_width_ns | Measured width in February of 2005 after clipping, running
north to south |
float | centimeter |
feb_05_clipp_width_ew | Measured width in February of 2005 after clipping, running
east to west |
float | centimeter |
apr_05_height | Measured height in April of 2005 |
float | centimeter |
apr_05_width_ns | Measured width in April of 2005 running north to
south |
float | centimeter |
apr_05_height_ew | Measured width in April of 2005 running east to
west |
float | centimeter |
jun_05_height | Measured height in June of 2005 |
float | centimeter |
jun_05_width_ns | Measured width in June of 2005 running north to
south |
float | centimeter |
jun_05_width_ew | Measured width in June of 2005 running east to
west |
float | centimeter |
aboce_dm | dry mass of aboce |
float | gram |
seed_dm | Dry mass of seeds |
float | gram |
flower_dm | Dry mass of the flowers |
float | gram |
total_dm | Total dry mass |
float | gram |
num_flowers | Number of flowers present on the
plant. |
integer | number |
Tabular: 114_sites_1.csv
Description: site descriptions
Column | Description | Type | Units |
---|---|---|---|
site_id | Identification of the sites sampled during this
study. |
string | |
site_name | Name of the sampled site. |
string |
Tabular: 114_soil_moisture_1.csv
Description: soil moisture measurements
Column | Description | Type | Units |
---|---|---|---|
sample_id | Unique identification number for each sample
taken. |
integer | |
site_id | Identification of the sites sampled during this
study. |
string | |
plot_id | Identification for plots within each
site. |
string | |
plant_id | Identification for the plants sampled in each
site |
string | |
water_id | Indecates whether the sampled plant has been watered (WY)
or not (WN). |
string |
Enumeration:
|
benomyl_id | This indecates whether benomyl fungicide was used (BY) or
not (BN). |
string |
Enumeration:
|
aug_04_loss | Percent of soil water measured in August 2004 (g water / g
dry soil). |
string | |
oct_04_loss | Percent of soil water measured in October 2004 (g water / g
dry soil). |
float | dimensionless |
feb_05_loss | Percent of soil water measured in February 2005 (g water /
g dry soil). |
float | dimensionless |
jul_05_loss | Percent of soil watar measured in July 2005 (g water / g
dry soil). |
float | dimensionless |