%0 Journal Article %1 ISI:000255680700012 %A Dauber, Jens %A Niechoj, Robin %A Baltruschat, Helmut %A Wolters, Volkmar %D 2008 %J BIOLOGY AND FERTILITY OF SOILS %K belowground_species_interactions ecosystem ecosystem_engineering formicidae functioning soil_biota %N 5 %P 791-796 %T Soil engineering ants increase grass root arbuscular mycorrhizal colonization %V 44 %X The role of edaphic factors in driving the relationship between plant community structure and ecosystem processes is a key issue of the current debate on functional implications of biodiversity. In this study, we draw a direct link between aboveground/belowground relationships, vegetation structure, and aboveground management. We used ground nesting ants and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) as an example for quantifying the role of biotic interactions in soil. Although both groups are known to have a major impact on grasslands, the interactive effect of these taxa on vegetation structure and its sensitivity to grassland management is poorly understood. We show that the ant Lasius flavus increases the root arbuscular mycorrhizal colonization (AMC) of grasses by modifying biotic and abiotic soil properties. As a possible consequence, the shoot length of grass growing on ant mounds was shorter and shoot N and P concentrations were higher than in grass growing off of the mounds. In addit

@article{ISI:000255680700012, abstract = {The role of edaphic factors in driving the relationship between plant community structure and ecosystem processes is a key issue of the current debate on functional implications of biodiversity. In this study, we draw a direct link between aboveground/belowground relationships, vegetation structure, and aboveground management. We used ground nesting ants and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) as an example for quantifying the role of biotic interactions in soil. Although both groups are known to have a major impact on grasslands, the interactive effect of these taxa on vegetation structure and its sensitivity to grassland management is poorly understood. We show that the ant Lasius flavus increases the root arbuscular mycorrhizal colonization (AMC) of grasses by modifying biotic and abiotic soil properties. As a possible consequence, the shoot length of grass growing on ant mounds was shorter and shoot N and P concentrations were higher than in grass growing off of the mounds. In addit}, added-at = {2009-02-13T14:17:24.000+0100}, author = {Dauber, Jens and Niechoj, Robin and Baltruschat, Helmut and Wolters, Volkmar}, biburl = {https://www.bibsonomy.org/bibtex/2604a45149cd9f2723ae34a3204a9294f/tieroeko}, interhash = {8e8843056463b33d7c0d67b51ea03fea}, intrahash = {604a45149cd9f2723ae34a3204a9294f}, issn = {0178-2762}, journal = {BIOLOGY AND FERTILITY OF SOILS}, keywords = {belowground_species_interactions ecosystem ecosystem_engineering formicidae functioning soil_biota}, number = 5, pages = {791-796}, timestamp = {2009-02-13T14:17:24.000+0100}, title = {Soil engineering ants increase grass root arbuscular mycorrhizal colonization}, volume = 44, year = 2008 }