Net transfer of carbon between ectomycorrhizal tree species in the field

Different plant species can be compatible with the same species of mycorrhizal fungi1,2 and be connected to one another by a common mycelium3,4. Transfer of carbon3,4,5, nitrogen6,7 and

phosphorus8,9 through interconnecting mycelia has been measured frequently in laboratory experiments, but it is not known whether transfer is bidirectional, whether there is a net gain by

one plant over its connected partner, or whether transfer affects plant performance in the field10,11. Laboratory studies using isotope tracers show that the magnitude of one-way transfer

can be influenced by shading of ‘receiver’ plants3,5, fertilization of ‘donor’ plants with phosphorus12, or use of nitrogen-fixing donor plants and non-nitrogen-fixing receiver plants13,14,

indicating that movement may be governed by source–sink relationships. Here we use reciprocal isotope labelling in the field to demonstrate bidirectional carbon transfer between the

ectomycorrhizal tree species Betula papyrifera and Pseudotsuga menziesii, resulting in net carbon gain by P. menziesii. Thuja plicata seedlings lacking ectomycorrhizae absorb small amounts

of isotope, suggesting that carbon transfer between B. papyrifera and P. menziesii is primarily through the direct hyphal pathway. Net gain by P. menziesii seedlings represents on average 6%

of carbon isotope uptake through photosynthesis. The magnitude of net transfer is influenced by shading of P. menziesii, indicating that source–sink relationships regulate such carbon

transfer under field conditions.

We thank B. Danielson and C. Y. Li for review of the experiment designs; J. Smith and D. McKay for help with identification of ectomycorrhizal morphotypes and assistance in the greenhouse;

C. Weicker and C. Gordon for assistance in the field; B. Zimonick, A. Vyse and P. G. Comeau for help and support; the staff at the Kamloops Forest Region of the British Columbia Ministry of

Forests and Forestry Science Laboratory at Oregon State University for assistance; and S. Smith and R. Finlay for comments on the manuscript. This work was supported by the British Columbia

Ministry of Forests and the Canada-British Columbia Partnership Agreement on Forest Resource Development (FRDA II).

Kamloops Forest Region, British Columbia Ministry of Forests, Kamloops, V2C 2T7, British Columbia, Canada

Forest Science Department, Oregon State University, Corvallis, 97331, Oregon, USA

Crop and Soil Science Department, Oregon State University, Corvallis, 97331, Oregon, USA

Biology Department, Okanagan University College, Kelowna, V1V 1V7, British Columbia, Canada

United States Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station, Corvallis, 97331, Oregon, USA

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