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Clara P. Peña-Venegas – Associate Researcher Sinchi Institute Microbiologist with PhD degree (2015) of the Wageningen University Scientific researcher at the Sinchi Institute since 1995 Research interests: biology of tropical soil; man-soil interactions Member of the South American Mycorrhizal Research Network
Whereas many researchers still approach Terra Preta (TP) as a soil category, new evidence suggests that TP refers to a directional grading of soil property changes (i.e., color, pH, nutrients, etc.) within human-made soils, originating from human activities in pre-Columbian times. Currently, most TP research focuses on the Brazilian part of the Amazon basin, but only little information is available on TP soils in the Colombian Amazon. Here, we sampled four TP and surrounding soils in the Colombian Amazon region at different soil depths and analyzed them for (i) general soil properties such as color, pH and texture, (ii) soil organic carbon and black carbon (BC) contents, the latter using benzene polycarboxylic acids as molecular marker, (iii) phosphorus availability based on sequential fractionation, and (iv) microbial residue contents using amino sugars. Our data from Colombia’s middle Caquetá River and Leticia confirmed that SOC, BC, and total P were present in significantly higher concentrations in the TP areas than the surrounding soils, while pH values and microbial residue contents were unchanged. The enrichment of P forms comprised both easily extractable and stable P pools, which both dominated to a different degree, both in TP and adjacent soils. The different degree of SOC, BC and P enrichment suggests different amounts of waste disposal by the ancient populations at different TP sites, now warranting further research for reconstructing ancient population sizes from TP chemical analyses.
Juan Orozco-Ortiz; Clara Peña-Venegas; Sara Bauke; Christian Borgemeister; Ramona Mörchen; Eva Lehndorff; Wulf Amelung. Terra Preta Properties in Northwestern Amazonia (Colombia). Sustainability 2021, 13, 7088 .
AMA StyleJuan Orozco-Ortiz, Clara Peña-Venegas, Sara Bauke, Christian Borgemeister, Ramona Mörchen, Eva Lehndorff, Wulf Amelung. Terra Preta Properties in Northwestern Amazonia (Colombia). Sustainability. 2021; 13 (13):7088.
Chicago/Turabian StyleJuan Orozco-Ortiz; Clara Peña-Venegas; Sara Bauke; Christian Borgemeister; Ramona Mörchen; Eva Lehndorff; Wulf Amelung. 2021. "Terra Preta Properties in Northwestern Amazonia (Colombia)." Sustainability 13, no. 13: 7088.
Rubber (Hevea brasiliensis, (Willd. Ex Adr. de Juss) Muell. Arg, Euphorbiaceae) is an important commercial latex-producing plant. Commercially, rubber is reproduced from a limited number of grifting genotypes. New promising genotypes have been selected to replace traditional genotypes. In addition, rubber has been promoted to recuperate Amazon soils degraded by extensive cattle ranching. Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis is an important alternative for improving plant nutrition in rubber trees and recuperating degraded soils, but AM fungal communities on different plantations and in rubber genotypes are unknown. Spore abundance, root colonization and AM fungal community composition were evaluated in rubber roots of Colombian and introduced genotypes cultivated in degraded soils with different plantation types. Traditional (spore isolation and description; clearing and staining roots) and molecular techniques (Illumina sequencing) were used to assess AM fungi. Rubber roots hosted a diverse AM fungal community of 135 virtual taxa (VT) in 13 genera. The genus Glomus represented 66% of the total AM fungal community. Rubber genotype did not affect the arbuscular mycorrhization, hosting similar AM fungal communities. The composition of the AM fungal community on old and young rubber plantations was different. Diversity in AM fungi in rubber roots is an important characteristic for restoring degraded soils.
Clara Peña-Venegas; Armando Sterling; Tatiana Andrade-Ramírez. Arbuscular Mycorrhization in Colombian and Introduced Rubber (Hevea brasiliensis) Genotypes Cultivated on Degraded Soils of the Amazon Region. Agriculture 2021, 11, 361 .
AMA StyleClara Peña-Venegas, Armando Sterling, Tatiana Andrade-Ramírez. Arbuscular Mycorrhization in Colombian and Introduced Rubber (Hevea brasiliensis) Genotypes Cultivated on Degraded Soils of the Amazon Region. Agriculture. 2021; 11 (4):361.
Chicago/Turabian StyleClara Peña-Venegas; Armando Sterling; Tatiana Andrade-Ramírez. 2021. "Arbuscular Mycorrhization in Colombian and Introduced Rubber (Hevea brasiliensis) Genotypes Cultivated on Degraded Soils of the Amazon Region." Agriculture 11, no. 4: 361.
The arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi are a globally‐distributed group of soil organisms that play critical roles in ecosystem function. However, the ecological niches of individual AM fungal taxa are poorly understood. We collected >300 soil samples from natural ecosystems worldwide and modelled the realized niches of AM fungal virtual taxa (VT; approximately species‐level phylogroups). We found that environmental and spatial variables jointly explained VT distribution worldwide, with temperature and pH being the most important abiotic drivers, and spatial effects generally occurring at local‐ to regional‐scales. While dispersal limitation could explain some variation in VT distribution, VT relative abundance was almost exclusively driven by environmental variables. Several environmental and spatial effects on VT distribution and relative abundance were correlated with phylogeny, indicating that closely related VT exhibit similar niche optima and widths. Major clades within Glomeraceae exhibited distinct niche optima, Acaulosporaceae generally had niche optima in low pH and low temperature conditions, and Gigasporaceae generally had niche optima in high precipitation conditions. Identifying the realized niche space occupied by individual and phylogenetic groups of soil microbial taxa provides a basis for building detailed hypotheses about how soil communities respond to gradients and manipulation in ecosystems worldwide.
John Davison; Mari Moora; Marina Semchenko; Sakeenah Binte Adenan; Talaat Ahmed; Asem A. Akhmetzhanova; Juha M. Alatalo; Saleh Al‐Quraishy; Elena Andriyanova; Sten Anslan; Mohammad Bahram; Amgaa Batbaatar; Charlotte Brown; C. Guillermo Bueno; James Cahill; Juan José Cantero; Brenda B. Casper; Mikhail Cherosov; Saida Chideh; Ana P. Coelho; Matthew Coghill; Guillaume Decocq; Sergey Dudov; Ezequiel Chimbioputo Fabiano; Vladimir E. Fedosov; Lauchlan Fraser; Sydney I. Glassman; Aveliina Helm; Hugh A. L. Henry; Bruno Hérault; Indrek Hiiesalu; Inga Hiiesalu; Wael N. Hozzein; Petr Kohout; Urmas Kõljalg; Kadri Koorem; Lauri Laanisto; Ülo Mander; Ladislav Mucina; Jean‐Pierre Munyampundu; Lena Neuenkamp; Ülo Niinemets; Casper Nyamukondiwa; Jane Oja; Vladimir Onipchenko; Meelis Pärtel; Cherdchai Phosri; Sergei Põlme; Kersti Püssa; Argo Ronk; Alessandro Saitta; Olivia Semboli; Siim‐Kaarel Sepp; Alexey Seregin; Surya Sudheer; Clara P. Peña‐Venegas; Claudia Paz; Tanel Vahter; Martti Vasar; Annelies J. Veraart; Leho Tedersoo; Martin Zobel; Maarja Öpik. Temperature and pH define the realised niche space of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. New Phytologist 2021, 231, 763 -776.
AMA StyleJohn Davison, Mari Moora, Marina Semchenko, Sakeenah Binte Adenan, Talaat Ahmed, Asem A. Akhmetzhanova, Juha M. Alatalo, Saleh Al‐Quraishy, Elena Andriyanova, Sten Anslan, Mohammad Bahram, Amgaa Batbaatar, Charlotte Brown, C. Guillermo Bueno, James Cahill, Juan José Cantero, Brenda B. Casper, Mikhail Cherosov, Saida Chideh, Ana P. Coelho, Matthew Coghill, Guillaume Decocq, Sergey Dudov, Ezequiel Chimbioputo Fabiano, Vladimir E. Fedosov, Lauchlan Fraser, Sydney I. Glassman, Aveliina Helm, Hugh A. L. Henry, Bruno Hérault, Indrek Hiiesalu, Inga Hiiesalu, Wael N. Hozzein, Petr Kohout, Urmas Kõljalg, Kadri Koorem, Lauri Laanisto, Ülo Mander, Ladislav Mucina, Jean‐Pierre Munyampundu, Lena Neuenkamp, Ülo Niinemets, Casper Nyamukondiwa, Jane Oja, Vladimir Onipchenko, Meelis Pärtel, Cherdchai Phosri, Sergei Põlme, Kersti Püssa, Argo Ronk, Alessandro Saitta, Olivia Semboli, Siim‐Kaarel Sepp, Alexey Seregin, Surya Sudheer, Clara P. Peña‐Venegas, Claudia Paz, Tanel Vahter, Martti Vasar, Annelies J. Veraart, Leho Tedersoo, Martin Zobel, Maarja Öpik. Temperature and pH define the realised niche space of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. New Phytologist. 2021; 231 (2):763-776.
Chicago/Turabian StyleJohn Davison; Mari Moora; Marina Semchenko; Sakeenah Binte Adenan; Talaat Ahmed; Asem A. Akhmetzhanova; Juha M. Alatalo; Saleh Al‐Quraishy; Elena Andriyanova; Sten Anslan; Mohammad Bahram; Amgaa Batbaatar; Charlotte Brown; C. Guillermo Bueno; James Cahill; Juan José Cantero; Brenda B. Casper; Mikhail Cherosov; Saida Chideh; Ana P. Coelho; Matthew Coghill; Guillaume Decocq; Sergey Dudov; Ezequiel Chimbioputo Fabiano; Vladimir E. Fedosov; Lauchlan Fraser; Sydney I. Glassman; Aveliina Helm; Hugh A. L. Henry; Bruno Hérault; Indrek Hiiesalu; Inga Hiiesalu; Wael N. Hozzein; Petr Kohout; Urmas Kõljalg; Kadri Koorem; Lauri Laanisto; Ülo Mander; Ladislav Mucina; Jean‐Pierre Munyampundu; Lena Neuenkamp; Ülo Niinemets; Casper Nyamukondiwa; Jane Oja; Vladimir Onipchenko; Meelis Pärtel; Cherdchai Phosri; Sergei Põlme; Kersti Püssa; Argo Ronk; Alessandro Saitta; Olivia Semboli; Siim‐Kaarel Sepp; Alexey Seregin; Surya Sudheer; Clara P. Peña‐Venegas; Claudia Paz; Tanel Vahter; Martti Vasar; Annelies J. Veraart; Leho Tedersoo; Martin Zobel; Maarja Öpik. 2021. "Temperature and pH define the realised niche space of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi." New Phytologist 231, no. 2: 763-776.
Manioc (Manihot esculenta Crantz) is an important tropical crop that depends on arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) association for its nutrition. However, little is known about the richness and species composition of AM fungal communities associating with manioc and possible differences across soils and manioc landraces. We studied the diversity and composition of AM fungal communities present in the roots of different manioc landraces and surrounding soils in indigenous shifting cultivation fields on different Amazonian soil types. A total of 126 AM fungal virtual taxa (VT; phylogenetically defined taxonomic units) were recovered from soil and root samples using 454 sequencing of AM fungal SSU rRNA gene amplicons. Different AM fungal communities occurred in different soil types. Minor differences occurred in the composition of AM fungal community associating with different manioc landraces, but AM fungal richness was not different among them. There was a low similarity between the AM fungal communities colonizing manioc roots and those recorded in the soil, independently of differences in soil properties or the manioc landrace evaluated. Rhizophagus manihotis and Glomus VT126 were the most abundant AM fungal species colonizing manioc roots. Contrasting with the results of earlier spore-based investigations, all the AM fungi identified as indicator species of particular manioc landraces were morphologically unknown Glomus species. In conclusion, different manioc landraces growing in common conditions associated with distinct AM fungal communities, whereby AM fungal communities in soils did not necessarily reflect the AM fungal communities colonizing manioc roots.
Clara P. Peña-Venegas; Thomas W. Kuyper; John Davison; Teele Jairus; Martti Vasar; Tjeerd Jan Stomph; Paul C. Struik; Maarja Öpik. Distinct arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal communities associate with different manioc landraces and Amazonian soils. Mycorrhiza 2019, 29, 263 -275.
AMA StyleClara P. Peña-Venegas, Thomas W. Kuyper, John Davison, Teele Jairus, Martti Vasar, Tjeerd Jan Stomph, Paul C. Struik, Maarja Öpik. Distinct arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal communities associate with different manioc landraces and Amazonian soils. Mycorrhiza. 2019; 29 (3):263-275.
Chicago/Turabian StyleClara P. Peña-Venegas; Thomas W. Kuyper; John Davison; Teele Jairus; Martti Vasar; Tjeerd Jan Stomph; Paul C. Struik; Maarja Öpik. 2019. "Distinct arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal communities associate with different manioc landraces and Amazonian soils." Mycorrhiza 29, no. 3: 263-275.
Outsiders often oversimplify Amazon soil use by assuming that abundantly available natural soils are poorly suited to agriculture and that sporadic anthropogenic soils are agriculturally productive. Local perceptions about the potentials and limitations of soils probably differ, but information on these perceptions is scarce. We therefore examined how four indigenous communities in the Middle Caquetá River region in the Colombian Amazon classify and use natural and anthropogenic soils. The study was framed in ethnopedology: local classifications, preferences, rankings, and soil uses were recorded through interviews and field observations. These communities recognized nine soils varying in suitability for agriculture. They identified anthropogenic soils as most suitable for agriculture, but only one group used them predominantly for their swiddens. As these communities did not perceive soil nutrient status as limiting, they did not base crop-site selection on soil fertility or on the interplay between soil quality and performance of manioc genetic resources.
C. P. Peña-Venegas; T. J. Stomph; G. Verschoor; J. A. Echeverri; P. C. Struik. Classification and Use of Natural and Anthropogenic Soils by Indigenous Communities of the Upper Amazon Region of Colombia. Human Ecology 2015, 44, 1 -15.
AMA StyleC. P. Peña-Venegas, T. J. Stomph, G. Verschoor, J. A. Echeverri, P. C. Struik. Classification and Use of Natural and Anthropogenic Soils by Indigenous Communities of the Upper Amazon Region of Colombia. Human Ecology. 2015; 44 (1):1-15.
Chicago/Turabian StyleC. P. Peña-Venegas; T. J. Stomph; G. Verschoor; J. A. Echeverri; P. C. Struik. 2015. "Classification and Use of Natural and Anthropogenic Soils by Indigenous Communities of the Upper Amazon Region of Colombia." Human Ecology 44, no. 1: 1-15.
Manioc is an important root crop in the tropics and the most important staple food in the Amazon. Manioc is diverse but its diversity has not yet been clearly associated with environmental or social factors. Our study evaluates how variation in edaphic environments and in social factors influences manioc diversity among five ethnic groups of the Amazon region of Colombia. Inventories of landraces, genetic analysis of manioc diversity, visits to farmers’ swiddens and interviews with farmers were carried out during two years of field work. Morphotypic and genotypic diversity of manioc were large. The different ethnic groups of our study cultivate different sweet and bitter manioc landraces which they select and maintain in accordance with their ancestral rules and norms. Differences in available environments among indigenous communities (such as the presence of different soils) did not markedly affect manioc morphotypic or genotypic diversity, while social factors considerably influenced observed manioc diversity. Manioc diversity was explained by two parallel processes of manioc diversification: volunteer seedling selection and manioc seed exchange. We argue that, for a full understanding of manioc diversity, indigenous knowledge, as well as morphological and genetic variation should be taken into account.
Clara P. Peña-Venegas; Tjeerd Jan Stomph; Gerard Verschoor; Luis A. Becerra Lopez-Lavalle; Paul C. Struik. Differences in Manioc Diversity Among Five Ethnic Groups of the Colombian Amazon. Diversity 2014, 6, 792 -826.
AMA StyleClara P. Peña-Venegas, Tjeerd Jan Stomph, Gerard Verschoor, Luis A. Becerra Lopez-Lavalle, Paul C. Struik. Differences in Manioc Diversity Among Five Ethnic Groups of the Colombian Amazon. Diversity. 2014; 6 (4):792-826.
Chicago/Turabian StyleClara P. Peña-Venegas; Tjeerd Jan Stomph; Gerard Verschoor; Luis A. Becerra Lopez-Lavalle; Paul C. Struik. 2014. "Differences in Manioc Diversity Among Five Ethnic Groups of the Colombian Amazon." Diversity 6, no. 4: 792-826.
Gladys Inés Cardona; Clara Patricia Peña-Venegas; Manuel Ruiz-García. [Communities of Actynomicetes fungy in three vegetation types of the Colombian Amazon: abundance, morphotypes and the 16s rDNA gene]. Revista de Biología Tropical 2009, 57, 1 .
AMA StyleGladys Inés Cardona, Clara Patricia Peña-Venegas, Manuel Ruiz-García. [Communities of Actynomicetes fungy in three vegetation types of the Colombian Amazon: abundance, morphotypes and the 16s rDNA gene]. Revista de Biología Tropical. 2009; 57 (4):1.
Chicago/Turabian StyleGladys Inés Cardona; Clara Patricia Peña-Venegas; Manuel Ruiz-García. 2009. "[Communities of Actynomicetes fungy in three vegetation types of the Colombian Amazon: abundance, morphotypes and the 16s rDNA gene]." Revista de Biología Tropical 57, no. 4: 1.
Los actinomicetos son importantes en la sostenibilidad de sistemas naturales. Su diversidad fue evaluada en suelos de bosque, pastizal y rastrojo, y dos profundidades en el Sur del Trapecio Amazónico Colombiano. Se analizaron suelos de cinco repeticiones por cobertura para un total de 15 unidades. Se tomaron seis muestras en cada unidad y dos profundidades, para un total de 30. Los actinomicetos cultivables se determinaron por recuento en placa, se extrajo ADN, se amplificó el gen ADNr 16s y su diversidad genética se estimó por ARDRA. Hubo diferencias de abundancia entre coberturas y profundidades, relacionadas con la vegetación, presencia de lombrices, macrofauna, altos niveles de materia orgánica, y bases totales. Se obtuvieron valores de diversidad fenotípica similares para las tres coberturas, pero los bosques son más diversos. Se identificaron 16 morfotipos, agrupados en séis géneros, siendo Streptomyces el más abundante. La heterogeneidad de los patrones ARDRA no permitió la asignación de especies, reflejándose variaciones en las secuencias de diferentes operones ADNr 16s en un mismo organismo. Las perturbaciones en la cobertura influyen sobre los actinomicetos, generando cambios en su abundancia y diversidad. Su importancia ecológica permite proponerlos como indicadores biológicos de alteración del paisaje.
Gladys Inés Cardona; Clara Patricia Peña-Venegas; Manuel Ruiz-García. Comunidades de hongos actinomicetos en tres tipos de vegetación de la Amazonia colombiana: abundancia, morfotipos y el gen 16s ADNr. Revista de Biología Tropical 2008, 57, 1 .
AMA StyleGladys Inés Cardona, Clara Patricia Peña-Venegas, Manuel Ruiz-García. Comunidades de hongos actinomicetos en tres tipos de vegetación de la Amazonia colombiana: abundancia, morfotipos y el gen 16s ADNr. Revista de Biología Tropical. 2008; 57 (4):1.
Chicago/Turabian StyleGladys Inés Cardona; Clara Patricia Peña-Venegas; Manuel Ruiz-García. 2008. "Comunidades de hongos actinomicetos en tres tipos de vegetación de la Amazonia colombiana: abundancia, morfotipos y el gen 16s ADNr." Revista de Biología Tropical 57, no. 4: 1.
La presencia de micorrizas arbusculares en la vegetación de la Amazonia mejora la nutrición de las plantas en suelos de baja fertilidad. Este trabajo evaluó la presencia natural de hongos micorrícicos de tipo arbuscular (HMA) en suelos ácidos de textura franco-arcillosa a arcillosa del sur de la Amazonia colombiana bajo bosque, rastrojo joven, y praderas establecidas, a dos profundidades diferentes. Fue estudiada la presencia de HMA (riqueza y abundancia de esporas) relacionado con la acidez, la capacidad de intercambio catiónico, el carbono orgánico, el fósforo total, las fracciones de fósforo soluble y fijado al aluminio, hierro y calcio, y el ADN total del suelo. Se detectaron diferencias significativas, en el contenido de ADN total y el número de esporas respecto a la profundidad de muestreo. El pH presentó un efecto significativo sobre el contenido de ADN y el número de esporas de HMA. El contenido de ADN en el suelo se vio afectado por las concentraciones de fosfatos de aluminio, mientras la esporulación de HMA fue afectada por las concentraciones de fosfatos de hierro del suelo. Así, el número de esporas de HMA en suelos de la Amazonia se ve afectada por la profundidad, el pH y por el tipo de fosfatos minerales presentes.
Clara Patricia Peña-Venegas; Gladys Inés Cardona; Jorge Humberto Arguelles; Adriana Lucia Arcos. Micorrizas arbusculares del sur de la Amazonia colombiana y su relación con algunos factores fisicoquímicos y biológicos del suelo. Acta Amazonica 2007, 37, 327 -336.
AMA StyleClara Patricia Peña-Venegas, Gladys Inés Cardona, Jorge Humberto Arguelles, Adriana Lucia Arcos. Micorrizas arbusculares del sur de la Amazonia colombiana y su relación con algunos factores fisicoquímicos y biológicos del suelo. Acta Amazonica. 2007; 37 (3):327-336.
Chicago/Turabian StyleClara Patricia Peña-Venegas; Gladys Inés Cardona; Jorge Humberto Arguelles; Adriana Lucia Arcos. 2007. "Micorrizas arbusculares del sur de la Amazonia colombiana y su relación con algunos factores fisicoquímicos y biológicos del suelo." Acta Amazonica 37, no. 3: 327-336.