Predicting the Biological Impacts of Climate Change; and the Ecological Effects of Endophytic Fungi

Endophytes are bacteria and fungi that live within a plant. This study observed the effects of perennial ryegrass infected with Neotyohidium lolii, and tall fescue infected with N. coenophilum. Plots of the 2 grass species were planted and half of the plots were infected with their respective fungi. Data was collected on the chlorophyll content in the plants, soil moisture, and nitrogen availability in the soil. It is also thought that grasses infected with fungi have elevated CO2 levels. This potentially could be correlated to climate change. This study is still in progress and therefore the results are not available as of 2007.