My PhD project is entitled: How do mycorrhizal fungi influence carbon and nutrient cycles in mixed forests?
Mycorrhizal fungi (fungi which form symbiotic partnerships with the fine roots of plants) are known to compete with decomposer (saprotrophic) fungi for nutrients in decomposing organic material. This ecological interaction can have a strong impact on the decomposition of organic matter, thus influencing carbon/nutrient cycling in forests, with relevance to soil carbon storage and ultimately climate change. These interactions have not yet been studied in mixed forests (forests with more than one tree species), despite their planting being encouraged for increased resilience to environmental change. I am using mixed Scots pine/silver birch forests to explore this interaction and study its impact on forest soil carbon and nutrient cycles.