Chrysolepis Chrysophylla) and Overstory Pinaceae Trees in a Mixed Conifer Forest in Central Oregon
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AN ABSTRACT OF THE THESIS OF Lucas J. Longway for the degree of Master of Science in Forest Ecosystems and Society presented on November 13, 2015 Title: Comparing Ectomycorrhizal Communities of Understory Giant Chinquapin (Chrysolepis chrysophylla) and Overstory Pinaceae Trees in a Mixed Conifer Forest in Central Oregon Abstract approved: _________________________________________________________________________ Jane E. Smith Giant chinquapin (Chrysolepis chrysophylla) is an evergreen hardwood often found as a shrubby understory component of coniferous forests in the Pacific Northwest United States. Due to its ability to sprout quickly after disturbances such as fire and logging it is often viewed as a pest by forest managers. Like its associated overstory conifers, giant chinquapin forms ectomycorrhizae. However, the ectomycorrhizal fungus communities associated with giant chinquapin found in the Pacific Northwest have not been investigated. To further explore giant chinquapin’s ecological roles in central Oregon’s forests we compare ectomycorrhizal communities associated with giant chinquapin and co- occurring overstory Pinaceae trees in the Pringle Falls Experimental Forest, central Oregon. Ectomycorrhizal communities of Pinaceae trees had a greater taxa richness than those found associated with giant chinquapin. However, 57% (8 of 14) of the taxa found in 31% (5/16) of study areas on Pinaceae trees were found associated with giant chinquapin. Four taxa (Cenococcum geophilum 1 & 2, Piloderma 2, Byssoccorticium 1), likely important for host water and nutrient access, were found in 31% of study areas associated with both chinquapin and Pinaceae hosts. Sixty-four percent (23 of 36) of the ectomycorrhizal taxa found on giant chinquapin associated with Pinaceae trees and every genus associated with giant chinquapin in our study has been reported to form ectomycorrhizae with Pinaceae trees in this or other studies. Based on these results, it is likely that giant chinquapin is supporting a subset of the ectomycorrhizal community associated with Pinaceae hosts. Giant chinquapin, with its ability to quickly sprout after disturbance, could be beneficial to local conifer seedlings as a source of ectomycorrhizal innoculum should overstory conifers decrease as a a result of a stand replacing disturbance. ©Copyright by Lucas J. Longway November 13, 2015 All Rights Reserved Comparing Ectomycorrhizal Communities of Understory Giant Chinquapin (Chrysolepis chrysophylla) and Overstory Pinaceae Trees in a Mixed Conifer Forest in Central Oregon by Lucas J. Longway A THESIS submitted to Oregon State University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science Presented November 13, 2015 Commencement June 2016 Master of Science thesis of Lucas J. Longway presented on November 13, 2015 APPROVED: _________________________________________________________________________ Major Professor, representing Forest Ecosystems and Society _________________________________________________________________________ Head of the Department of Forest Ecosystems and Society _________________________________________________________________________ Dean of the Graduate School I understand that my thesis will become part of the permanent collection of Oregon State University libraries. My signature below authorizes release of my thesis to any reader upon request. _________________________________________________________________________ Lucas J. Longway, Author ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would like to express my sincere appreciation to my major professor, Jane E. Smith for guiding me through the ups and downs of executing a scientific study and obtaining a master’s degree. My heartfelt thanks also goes to my committee members, Paul Anderson Jeff Hatten, and Daniel Luoma, who have offered invaluable support throughout this process. I would also like to thank everyone who helped with data collection and sample processing, Donaraye McKay, Elizabeth Bowman, Joseph Cagle. I would also like to express my gratitude to my lab mates Ariel Cowan, Maria Osuna Garcia and Benjamin Hart, my partners in PCR, Richard Cronn, Joyce Eberhart, Tara Jennings, Thomas Mullins and my map expert Lucy Romeo, for helping, listening and offering feedback every step of the way. For teaching me things I really needed to know, I would like to thank Lisa Ganio, Bruce McCune, Shawn O’Neil, and Matthew Powers. For thesis formatting help I would like to thank Jerry Mohr. For meeting with me every week for precisely 3.2 bajillon weeks and talking about numbers, I would like to thank Ariel Muldoon. Finally, I would like to thank my friends and my family for supporting me though this process. My wife, Kelly Longway, deserves a medal of honor and perhaps a Master's in ‘keeping Lucas alive’ and for her I am eternally grateful. Last, but most certainly not least, I would like to thank Sam and Napoleon. TABLE OF CONTENTS Page STUDY OVERVIEW AND RELATED TOPICS ................................................................ 1 USDA Forest Service Pringle Falls Experimental Forest .............................................................. 1 History & Research .................................................................................................................... 1 PFEF Geologic History .............................................................................................................. 1 Soil ............................................................................................................................................. 2 Climate & Vegetation ................................................................................................................ 2 Fire ................................................................................................................................................. 3 Fire Adapted Environments in the Pacific Northwest ................................................................ 3 Fire & Climate Change .............................................................................................................. 4 Ecosystem Changes with Fire & Ectomycorrhizal Refuge Plants ............................................. 5 Overarching Study ..................................................................................................................... 6 Mycorrhiza ..................................................................................................................................... 7 History ........................................................................................................................................ 7 Mycorrhizal Classification ......................................................................................................... 8 Ecological Roles ...................................................................................................................... 10 EMF, Nitrogen & Phosphorus .................................................................................................. 10 Growth, Reproduction, Molecular Advances ........................................................................... 14 Common Mycorrhizal Networks .............................................................................................. 15 Generalists & Specialists.......................................................................................................... 16 Chinquapin ................................................................................................................................... 16 Biology & Ecology .................................................................................................................. 16 Economic Significance............................................................................................................. 17 Cultural Significance ................................................................................................................ 17 Ecosystem Services .................................................................................................................. 18 Chinquapin & Fire .................................................................................................................. 18 Competition .............................................................................................................................. 19 Chinquapin Ectomycorrhiza ..................................................................................................... 20 Pinaceae ........................................................................................................................................ 21 Pacific Northwest Genera and Species .................................................................................... 21 Economic Significance............................................................................................................. 21 Pinaceae Range & Biology ...................................................................................................... 22 Summary ...................................................................................................................................... 26 STUDY MANUSCRIPT...................................................................................................... 32 Introduction .................................................................................................................................. 32 Materials & Methods ...................................................................................................................