This multi-authored book gives an overview of recent advances and breakthroughs in the field of mycorrhizal ecology. The text elucidates mechanisms that determine plant biodiversity - a prerequisite to ensuring successful management for the conservation and restoration of ecosystems. Topics covered include: all the major mycorrhizal types, plant population biology, multitrophic interactions, biological diversity, ecosystem functioning, global change and evolution. This volume shows that collaboration in the rhizosphere is essential for plants, microbes, plant communities and ecosystems. It has been written with ecologists in mind, giving them easy access to an understanding of how these important interactions could shape our ecosystems.

Inhalt

Section A: Introduction.- 1 Towards Ecological Relevance - Progress and Pitfalls in the Path Towards an Understanding of Mycorrhizal Functions in Nature.- Section B: Ecophysiology, Ecosystems Effects and Global Change.- 2 Carbon and Nutrient Fluxes Within and Between Mycorrhizal Plants.- 3 Function and Diversity of Arbuscular Mycorrhizae in Carbon and Mineral Nutrition.- 4 Foraging and Resource Allocation Strategies of Mycorrhizal Fungi in a Patchy Environment.- 5 The Role of Various Types of Mycorrhizal Fungi in Nutrient Cycling and Plant Competition.- 6 Global Change and Mycorrhizal Fungi.- Section C: Biodiversity, Plant and Fungal Communities.- 7 Diversity of Ecto-mycorrhizal Fungal Communities in Relation to the Abiotic Environment.- 8 Genetic Studies of the Structure and Diversity of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungal Communities.- 9 Diversity of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi and Ecosystem Functioning.- 10 Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi as a Determinant of Plant Diversity: In Search for Underlying Mechanisms and General Principles.- 11 Dynamics Within the Plant - Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungal Mutualism: Testing the Nature of Community Feedback.- Section D: Multitrophic Interactions.- 12 Mycorrhizae-Herbivore Interactions: Population and Community Consequences.- 13 Actions and Interactions of Soil Invertebrates and Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi in Affecting the Structure of Plant Communities.- 14 Interactions Between Ecto-mycorrhizal Fungi and Saprotrophic Fungi.- Section E: Host Specificity and Co-evolution.- 15 Mycorrhizal Specificity and Function in Myco-heterotrophic Plants.- 16 Specificity in the Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Symbiosis.- Section F: Conclusions.- 17 Mycorrhizal Ecology: Synthesis and Perspectives.- Taxonomic Index.