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Full-Text Articles in Biology
Stable Coexistence Or Competitive Exclusion? Fern Endophytes Demonstrate Rapid Turnover Favoring A Dominant Fungus, Brett Steven Younginger, Nathan U. Stewart, Mehmet Ali Balkan, Daniel J. Ballhorn
Stable Coexistence Or Competitive Exclusion? Fern Endophytes Demonstrate Rapid Turnover Favoring A Dominant Fungus, Brett Steven Younginger, Nathan U. Stewart, Mehmet Ali Balkan, Daniel J. Ballhorn
Biology Faculty Publications and Presentations
Fungal endophytes are critical members of the plant microbiome, but their community dynamics throughout an entire growing season are underexplored. Additionally, most fungal endophyte research has centred on seed-reproducing hosts, while spore-reproducing plants also host endophytes and may be colonized by unique community members. In order to examine annual fungal endophyte community dynamics in a spore-reproducing host, we explored endophytes in a single population of ferns, Polystichum munitum, in the Pacific Northwest. Through metabarcoding, we characterized the community assembly and temporal turnover of foliar endophytes throughout a growing season. From these results, we selected endophytes with outsized representations in …
Culturable Fungal Endophyte Communities Of Primary Successional Plants On Mount St. Helens, Wa, Usa, Emily R. Wolfe, Robyn Dove, Cassandra Webster, Daniel J. Ballhorn
Culturable Fungal Endophyte Communities Of Primary Successional Plants On Mount St. Helens, Wa, Usa, Emily R. Wolfe, Robyn Dove, Cassandra Webster, Daniel J. Ballhorn
Biology Faculty Publications and Presentations
Background: While a considerable amount of research has explored plant community composition in primary successional systems, little is known about the microbial communities inhabiting these pioneer plant species. Fungal endophytes are ubiquitous within plants, and may play major roles in early successional ecosystems. Specifically, endophytes have been shown to affect successional processes, as well as alter host stress tolerance and litter decomposition dynamics—both of which are important components in harsh environments where soil organic matter is still scarce.
Results: To determine possible contributions of fungal endophytes to plant colonization patterns, we surveyed six of the most common woody …