POSSIBLE BENEFITS OF ECTOMYCORRHIZAL INFECTION OF CONIFER SEEDLINGS AT ALTA SKI AREA
Abstract
Studying tree survival rates of conifers planted at Alta has shown that the project is struggling in terms of survival. I wanted to extend this research and see if there are any measurable benefits of ectomycorrhizal (ECM) root infection. I completed this research by harvesting small conifer specimens at Alta Ski Area, doing a series of analysis to define the health of each specimen, and then performing root analysis to determine the percent of ECM infection. Then by doing comparative analysis of these data I hoped to find that healthier plants had increased ECM infection percentages. I have not found that there is any significant connection between the two. This result leads me to believe benefits of ECM infection may be more in relation to ecosystem stability, and encourages me to ask more questions.
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