Impact of nitrogen on ectomycorrhizal fungi: from resource exchange to forest carbon cycling.

Elevated inorganic nitrogen reduces carbon-demanding ectomycorrhizal fungi, potentially altering forest carbon cycling and biogeochemical processes globally.

• Why it matters: Understanding how nitrogen impacts ECM fungi is crucial because these fungi play a key role in forest nutrient exchange and carbon sequestration, yet the mechanisms behind their response to nitrogen are not fully understood.
• What they did: The study reviews recent advances, focusing on fungal nutritional needs and source-sink dynamics, and examines how nitrogen-driven shifts in ECM communities influence decomposition and carbon storage in soils.
• The result: Findings suggest nitrogen-induced changes in ECM fungi could significantly affect forest carbon cycling and biogeochemical cycles, emphasizing the need for further research to predict ecosystem responses.