Conference XII
TREES, ROOTS, FUNGI, SOIL
Below-Ground Ecosystem & Implications for Tree Health
13th November 2008
In this one-day event we brought together UK and international speakers with knowledge of interactions between saprotrophs, tree-root pathogens and mycorrhizal fungi to improve our understanding of below-ground interactions between fungi and trees, and the conditions for health and pathogenicity to support practitioners in their endeavours to beneficially influence tree health.
This conference examined the implications of climate change, pollution, high nitrogen levels, soil conditions and new tree diseases. It explored what constitutes a healthy environment in which trees can grow and different ways of addressing adverse impacts on functioning root activity. It concentrated on research into soil amelioration and processes that lead to breakdown in functioning soil ecology influencing ‘pathogenicity’. There was a strong focus on different experiments and experiences of soil ecology rejuvenation, including mineralization and whether these have universal relevance or are specific to certain ecosystems.
SPEAKERS
Prof. Lynne Boddy (Cardiff University)
Lecture 1: Underground mycology: The relations between fungi, soil and tree
Prof. Richard Bardgett (Lancaster University)
Lecture 2: Insights into the belowground ecology of forest ecosystems
Dr Lee Klinger (Independent scientist, USA)
Lecture 6: A holistic approach to mitigating pathogenic effects on trees: Case studies including use of soil amendments
Prof. Alan Gange (Royal Holloway)
Lecture 3: Climate change impacts on Woodland Saprotrophs & Mycorrhizas
Dr. Nick Haycock (Haycock Associates Ltd / University of Manchester)
Lecture 4: Ground compaction, nitrogen & phosphorus deposition: the effects upon soil & water quality
Prof. Jan Čermák (Brno University)
Lecture 5: Tree eco-physiology: Investigations into tree water relations, structure & growth
Please use the box below to continue the discussion of issues and ideas raised during this event.
Good stuff! Mycologists are fast becoming a rare breed according to a radio 4 report this morning
Comment by Keith — 27 November 2008 @ 1:11 pm
What’s so good about the TEP seminars is that ordinary technical practitioners like me get a chance to find out about the research discoveries and academic theories that will shape the way we work. The recent Seminar XII – Tree Roots and Fungi – was no exception.
For me the best bits will always be the research results that have not been previously published within the arboricultural literature and the highlights were:
- Richard Bardgett on soil carbon and soil microbes and how they interact with above and below ground environments.
- Alan Gange on analysis of 60 years of records of fruiting appearances of fungi and the changes that have taken place in response to climate.
- Lee Klinger on SOD in California and his compelling approach to the environmental factors involved.
These were speakers that made you think immediately about the implications of their work to your own, while speakers who spent most of their time on research methods or a rehearsal of previously published information were of less interest.
I don’t know what the brief is for speakers at the seminars but the solid amount of new and relevant information that is presented implies that they should concentrate on recent research findings as this, by and large, is what you get.
Comment by Tim Moya — 27 November 2008 @ 5:29 pm
I was blown away by the day, and it has done nothing but further fuel the fire for knowledge. Having been a climber for 21 years and being an amateur mycologist for the last decade or more this seminar was right up my street. There was much that joined the dots in my own theories and also a lot of things I was not aware of, and left with more questions than I came with. I realise that this is part of the point and I have to say TEP are bringing together ideas, theories and the people behind them that will push arboriculture to a completely new level.
In starting these seminars TEP have done something VERY important for arboricultural science/knowledge and I stand and applaud you for the magnitude of what your doing and for the people you’re bringing together. It was clear that the givers took as much away as they delivered from this, from each other and from the audience, it was a privilege to witness. I hope this will be the beginning of a network that gets all these different disciplines communicating, I think there is much to gain from this and will hope to attend as many of these seminars as possible as and when finances allow.
I would like to extend my gratitude to all the speakers too.
Many many thanks, a fantastic day all round, bar the wimps needing the heating!
Comment by Tony Croft — 27 November 2008 @ 5:31 pm
I thoroughly enjoyed the day. Your seminars continue to extend the knowledge of arboriculture and I benefit from that in my day-to-day work.
I will continue to press my bosses to make money available to continue attending your seminars.
Comment by David Kavanagh-Spall — 28 November 2008 @ 6:30 pm
Working on a UK Ancient Tree Project, this seminar provided me with valuable information from leading researchers in the field. It also sparked more questions reagrding trees which I had seen growing in different parts of the UK. I had the opportunity to discuss these thoughts with the experts, which was great!
The seminar highlighted the importance of bringing the research to the practitioners in order to make a difference. We still need to educate people on the importance of soils, what we put into the ground and how this affects the balance. We have so much to learn, and the TEP seminars are bridging a gap, allowing the thoughts of the practitioners to filter back to the researchers. This hopefully may help to influence research in the future and answer more questions for the people working with the trees. I will look forward to the next seminar!
Comment by Katherine Owen — 12 December 2008 @ 4:34 pm
An excellent seminar highlighting just some of the valuable research that is going on. To summarise just a few points that interested me.
Prof. Lynne Boddy
Images of how mycorrhiza spread and react to other fungi as they battle for carbon exchange was an eye-opener! As was the realisation that we don’t know enough about how effective mycorrhizal injections are and whether we are introducing the correct mycorrhiza. The decompaction and mulching that usually accompanies such treatment is clearly valuable. What is it the garden centres are selling and gardenening programmes now promote as an additive to our soil?!
Prof. Richard Bardgett
The ecology and relationship between growth and altitude confirmed personal observations and inspired the need to identify and record the few fragments of natural tree-line we have left in the UK. These trees may prove more important than we can imagine?
Dr Lee Klinger
The amount of calcium found in tree bark and its importance as a historic fertiliser was amazing! An inspiring lecture with very impressive pro-active tree health care studies. The relationship between moss, acidity and tree health could be researched on some of our own ancient tree sites.
Prof. Alan Gange (Royal Holloway)
Climate change in relation to fungal activity raised an interesting question. If mychorizzal fungi has remained unaffected following a rise in temperature, does the same apply for lower temperatures? Does this indicate why trees at altitude survive and with less active saprotrophs help explain why some of our oldest trees are found in these locations in good health? Topic for further research?
Prof. Jan Čermák
Evidence of root damage following compaction by vehicles surely needs wider publication and justifies adequate exclusion zones around trees on development sites?
Sadly, I left before seeing Dr Nick Haycock but I hope this sees arboriculturalists feeding back to the researchers to help identify and stimulate further research opportunities. Congratulations to Neville and TEP
Comment by David Alderman — 23 December 2008 @ 9:13 am