Origin, diversification and maintenance of mycorrhizal fungi of Ericaceae in a mountain ecosystem of southern Ecuador

• Antragstellerin: Dr. Sabrina Setaro
• Fachliche Zuordnung: Ökologie und Biodiversität der Pflanzen und Ökosysteme
• Förderung: Förderung von 2007 bis 2012
• Projektkennung: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Projektnummer 29937865

Most northern Andean plants originate from the Amazon lowland tropical forest, but Ericaceae are suspected to have invaded from North America, radiating and forming an endemic Andean clade. Ericaceae are dependent on their mycorrhizal fungi for nutrient acquisition. Evolutionary history of Ericaceae and their associates as well as biogeography of the mycorrhizal fungi have not been investigated so far. This research project aims to clarify if ancestral Ericaceae invaded to northern South America in association with their mycorrhizal fungi carried from North America or if they associated with local fungi. The results would allow the reconstruction of the evolution of neotropical Sebacinales B, the dominant associates of neotropical Ericaceae, and would make a contribution answering general questions about evolution of host-associate relationships in mycorrhizas. Furthermore, host and habitat specificities of recent associates of neotropical Ericaceae shall be investigated. This knowledge is needed to evaluate regeneration potential of neotropical Ericaceae in disturbed areas after forest loss and contribute to reconstruction of ericaceous vegetation in the highly diverse mountain rain forests in southern Ecuador.

• DFG-Verfahren: Forschungsgruppen
• Teilprojekt zu: FOR 816: Biodiversity and Sustainable Management of a Megadiverse Mountain Ecosystem in South Ecuador
• Internationaler Bezug: USA
• Gastgeberin: Professorin Dr. Kathleen Kron