Research Seminar - Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment

Seminar abstract: Pines are among the most problematic invasive species in the Southern Hemisphere, causing major transformations in ecosystems aboveground. The below-ground effects of pine invasion can be equally transformative. In particular, pines rely on ectomycorrhizal fungi for nutrient uptake, while many of the ecosystems they invade are dominated by arbuscular mycorrhizal vegetation. Pine invasion is therefore associated with a shift in the fundamental functioning of soil ecosystems. Dr Dickie will explore the below-ground aspects of invasive ectomycorrhizal trees. First, he will highlight the mechanisms by which pines have become invasive in regions where a lack of ectomycorrhizal inoculum was once a severe limitation on tree establishment. He will then explore the direct consequences of pine invasions for carbon, soil nutrients, and biodiversity. Finally, he will test whether there really are fundamental shifts in ecosystem processes driven by mycorrhizal status, particularly in terms of plant litter quality, plant-soil feedback, and mineral and organic nutrient cycling.

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