Mycorrhizal symbiosis above treeline in the Patagonian Andes of Argentina at Cerro Chalhuaco, a potential GLORIA site.

APPLE, M.; FONTENLA, S.,; FERNANDEZ, N.; EZCURRA, C.

Mt Hood, Oregon, USA

Conferencia; MTNCLIM 2006 Conference; 2006

Consortium for Integrated Climate Research in Western Mountains

In March, 2006 we initiated research on Andean mycorrhizal symbioses by collecting herbaceous plants above treeline in the Patagonian Andes of Argentina near the city of San Carlos de Bariloche. Our two study sites were at the 6653 ft. summit ridge of Cerro Catedral, an alpine ski resort, and at 5324 ft., which was just above treeline on 6562 ft. Cerro Chalhuaco. Cerro Chalhuaco is relatively undisturbed, has an unobstructed, rounded summit, and is located in Parque Nacional Nahuel Huapi. It is not overly difficult to reach and may represent a potential GLORIA site. We are currently investigating roots of the collected Andean plants in order to determine the presence, absence, and type of mycorrhizal symbiosis. Using a toluidine blue-glycerin stain with UV fluorescence, we have found extraradical hyphae, interradical hyphae, and arbuscules which are indicative of vesicular arbuscular mycorrhizae (VAM). This study represents new information as little is known to date about mycorrhizal symbioses of the high Andes. Concurrently, we have constructed a herbarium of the collected plants which will yield phenological data, which will be valuable in present and future studies of climate change. Mycorrhizal colonization is influenced by climatic variables such as quantity and seasonality of precipitation. Therefore, monitoring of mycorrhizal symbioses is a valuable and necessary component of investigations of climate change in all alpine environments.