Assessing the indigenous Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) community associated with sea oats along the Georgia coast at Jekyll and Tybee Islands

<p>Coastal sand dunes are fragile ecosystems that serve as natural defenses to protect the adjacent mainland by absorbing the impacts and energy from severe storms. Different efforts have been taken to restore coastal sand dunes, focusing on foredunes. However, there are many strategies involved with coastal restoration and one superior technique has not been found to be the best. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) supply a range of limiting nutrients (N, P, Fe, and Zn) to the host plant while improving dune stability. This study aimed to assess and compare the diversity of the indigenous AMF community associated with sea oats at Jekyll and Tybee Islands on Georgia’s coast. This study analyzed the difference between natural and restored dunes concerning AMF assemblages and the chemical content of the soil and sea oat leaves.</p> <p>On each site, samples were collected by minimum disturbance from dune ridges that were randomly selected where sea oats were present. Whole genomic DNA was extracted from soil and sea oats roots and were sent out to be replicated. Soil and leaf samples were taken and was sent to be chemically analyzed.</p> <p>A total of thirteen AMF species were identified, and seven of the thirteen species were identifiable at the species level. The remainder was left as unclassified. The most abundant genera were <em>Glomus</em>, and the most abundant species were unclassified <em>Glomus</em> species, followed by <em>Glomus custos</em> and <em>Glomus deserticola</em>. The findings from this study imply that there are potentially undescribed taxa of AMF waiting to be discovered.</p>

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science in Integrative Biology (MSIB)

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Biology

Year dc:date.available

2022

Author dc:creator

• Stover, Kylie

Contributors dc:contributor

• Thomas McElroy
• Troy Mutchler
• Daniel Ferreira

• Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi
• sea oats
• sand dune restoration
• Uniola paniculate L.
• Biology
• Integrative Biology

Repository record dc:identifier

https://digitalcommons.kennesaw.edu/integrbiol_etd/85

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:digitalcommons.kennesaw.edu:integrbiol_etd-1086