Elevation and plant species identity jointly shape a diverse arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal community in the High Arctic

Knowledge about the distribution and local diversity patterns of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi are limited for extreme environments such as the Arctic, where most studies have focused on spore morphology or root colonization. We here studied the joint effects of plant species identity and elevation on AM fungal distribution and diversity. We sampled roots of 19 plant species in 18 locations in Northeast Greenland, using next generation sequencing to identify AM fungi. We studied the joint effect of plant species, elevation and selected abiotic conditions on AM fungal presence, richness and composition. We identified 29 AM fungal virtual taxa (VT), of which six represent putatively new VT. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal presence increased with elevation, and as vegetation cover and the active soil layer decreased. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal composition was shaped jointly by elevation and plant species identity. We demonstrate that the Arctic harbours a relatively species-rich and nonrandomly distributed diversity of AM fungi. Given the high diversity and general lack of knowledge exposed herein, we encourage further research into the diversity, drivers and functional role of AM fungi in the Arctic. Such insight is urgently needed for an area with some of the globally highest rates of climate change

Elevation and plant species identity jointly shape a diverse arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal community in the High Arctic

Knowledge about the distribution and local diversity patterns of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi are limited for extreme environments such as the Arctic, where most studies have focused on spore morphology or root colonization. We here studied the joint effects of plant species identity and elevation on AM fungal distribution and diversity. We sampled roots of 19 plant species in 18 locations in Northeast Greenland, using next generation sequencing to identify AM fungi. We studied the joint effect of plant species, elevation and selected abiotic conditions on AM fungal presence, richness and composition. We identified 29 AM fungal virtual taxa (VT), of which six represent putatively new VT. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal presence increased with elevation, and as vegetation cover and the active soil layer decreased. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal composition was shaped jointly by elevation and plant species identity. We demonstrate that the Arctic harbours a relatively species-rich and nonrandomly distributed diversity of AM fungi. Given the high diversity and general lack of knowledge exposed herein, we encourage further research into the diversity, drivers and functional role of AM fungi in the Arctic. Such insight is urgently needed for an area with some of the globally highest rates of climate change.Peer reviewe

van der Waals coefficients for positronium-atom interactions

The van der Waals coefficients for positronium interactions with a number of rare gases (He, Ne, Ar, Kr, and Xe) and alkali-metal atoms (Li, Na, K, and Rb) are estimated using a variety of ab initio and semiempirical methods. Dispersion coefficients are also presented for atomic hydrogen and a number of rare-gas and alkali-metal atoms for validation purposes

Semiempirical calculation of van der Waals coefficients for alkali-metal and alkaline-earth-metal atoms

The van der Waals coefficients, C-6, C-8, and C-10 for the alkali-metal (Li, Na, K, and Rb) and alkaline-earth-metal (Be, Mg, Ca, and Sr) atoms are estimated by a combination of ab initio and semiempirical methods. Polarizabilities and atom-wall coefficients are given as a diagnostic check, and the lowest order nonadiabatic dispersion coefficient, D-8 and the three-body coefficient, C-9 are also presented. The dispersion coefficients are in agreement with the available relativistic many-body perturbation theory calculations. The contribution from the core was included by using constrained sum rules involving the core polarizability and Hartree-Fock expectation values to estimate the f-value distribution

Morphological and genetic relationships of Myosotis laxa ssp. baltica and ssp. caespitosa, and typification of M. laxa ssp. baltica

Intraspecific taxonomy of Myosotis laxa has been unclear for a long time. M. laxa ssp. baltica has been treated as a microendemic taxon of the Baltic Sea region, which has evolved in the Aland Islands and has spread northwards; the spread to southeast has been declared doubtful. Morphologically intermediate individuals between M. l. ssp. caespitosa and M. l. ssp. baltica exist; these have sometimes been classified as M. l. ssp. laxa. The aim of this paper is to clarify phylogenetic relationships between subspecies of M. laxa s.l. Here, M. laxa ssp. baltica is lectotypified. We proved that typical M. l. ssp. baltica does occur in the south-eastern Baltic region, namely in Estonia, using herbarium and freshly collected material. A group of plants were identified as typical M. l. ssp. baltica, but many specimens showed intermediate characters between M. laxa ssp. baltica and ssp. caespitosa. The two subspecies could be clearly differentiated neither by morphological characteristics nor by ITS sequences. M. laxa s. l. appeared to be monophyletic according to the ITS phylogeny. We propose that Myosotis laxa ssp. baltica is a coastal ecotype of Myosotis laxa, which has adapted to the fluctuating conditions of coastal habitats. Genetically, it has not yet evolved into a separate species and therefore it would be reasonable to assign it a rank of variety. However, further investigation including wider taxon and geographical sampling is needed to finally clarify the position of all subspecies