Cathy L. Cripps, Leslie H. Eddington
Arctic, Antarctic, and Alpine Research 37 (2), 177-188, (1 May 2005) https://doi.org/10.1657/1523-0430(2005)037[0177:DOMTAA]2.0.CO;2
Mycorrhizal symbiosis is critical to plant establishment and survival, influences plant community structure and function, and could be particularly important in harsh environments such as the alpine tundra. An examination of 53 vascular plant species in 21 families from alpine areas of the Beartooth Plateau (Rocky Mountains) revealed most were mycorrhizal (68%) and four distinct types of symbioses were present. They differ in fungal groups involved, plant taxa, physiology, ecology, morphology, and resource acquisition. Betula, Dryas, Salix, and Polygonum viviparum consistently form ectomycorrhizae (ECT) with basidiomycete fungi. Phyllodoce, Kalmia, and Vaccinium (Ericaceae) form ericoid mycorrhizae with ascomycete fungi, and Arctostaphylos an arbutoid type with basidiomycetes. Eight families (18 species) had only arbuscular mycorrhizae (AM) of glomalean fungi: Apiaceae, Asteraceae, Campanulaceae, Fabaceae, Hydrophyllaceae, Onagraceae, Poaceae, Ranunculaceae. Nonmycorrhizal (NM) families were Brassicaceae, Caryophyllaceae, Crassulaceae, Cyperaceae, Gentianaceae, and Juncaceae. Split families included Polygonaceae (NM/AM/ECT), Portulacaceae (NM/AM), Rosaceae (AM/ECT), and Scrophulariaceae (NM/AM). This is the first report of mycorrhizae for 25 alpine plant species, and most others are new reports for the Rocky Mountains. The distribution of mycorrhizal types among plant families is reasonably consistent across the arctic-alpine biome (reviewed here) with exceptions. The patchy distribution of mycorrhizal types associated with large-scale perennial vegetation mosaics suggests microbial functioning is not uniform across tundra landscapes.