Corylus Autecology

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The Autecology of Corylus avellana Autecology is the ecological study of a single species. If one takes a step back to define what ecology is and what ecologists seek to understand, it is the study of the relationships between organisms and their environment. This essay aims to explore the autecology of Corylus avellana, and how it interacts with its environment. Its morphology, life history, organisms that are, to an extent, dependent on its existence, where they can be found geographically and how death comes about for this particular species will be looked at in more detail. The hazel, C. avellana, has a long history with man; for many years, it has been coppiced for its flexible, straight wood, grown as a hedge plant and for its edible …show more content…

Only twenty one species have been found to share this mutualistic association with C. avellana, an example being the fiery milk mushroom or hazel milk cap (Lactarius pyrogalus) which is largely restricted to growing with hazel. Another example of a species that is dependant on C. avellana is an ascomycete fungus (Hypocreopsis rhododendri), which is shown growing on C. avellana in Figure 3. Mycorrhizal partnerships are symbiotic; both of the organisms within the relationship will benefit. Within a mycorrhizal, the fungus receives sugars from its plant host. Because fungi do not photosynthesise and plants do photosynthesise, the plant host becomes a very important source of energy for the fungus. The fungi, on the other hand, will transfer vital minerals such as nitrogen and phosphorus from decaying organic matter, as well as metabolites and water from the soil, into the plant. Fungi are able to use enzymes to break down substances that plants cannot without aid, and therefore widens the variety of nutrients available to the plant. Additionally, the fungi can protect the plant from parasites and predators such as nematodes and soil pathogens. In this way, hazel can obtain both nutrients and

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