Mycorrhizal feedbacks influence global forest structure and diversity

Camille S. Delavaux, Joseph A. LaManna, Jonathan A. Myers, Richard P. Phillips, Salomón Aguilar, David Allen, Alfonso Alonso, Kristina J. Anderson-Teixeira, Matthew E. Baker, Jennifer L. Baltzer, Pulchérie Bissiengou, Mariana Bonfim, Norman A. Bourg, Warren Y. Brockelman, David F.R.P. Burslem, Li Wan Chang, Yang Chen, Jyh Min Chiang, Chengjin Chu, Keith ClaySusan Cordell, Mary Cortese, Jan den Ouden, Christopher Dick, Sisira Ediriweera, Erle C. Ellis, Anna Feistner, Amy L. Freestone, Thomas Giambelluca, Christian P. Giardina, Gregory S. Gilbert, Fangliang He, Jan Holík, Robert W. Howe, Walter Huaraca Huasca, Stephen P. Hubbell, Faith Inman, Patrick A. Jansen, Daniel J. Johnson, Kamil Kral, Andrew J. Larson, Creighton M. Litton, James A. Lutz, Yadvinder Malhi, Krista McGuire, Sean M. McMahon, William J. McShea, Hervé Memiaghe, Anuttara Nathalang, Natalia Norden, Vojtech Novotny, Michael J. O’Brien, David A. Orwig, Rebecca Ostertag, Geoffrey G.(‘Jess’) Parker, Rolando Pérez, Glen Reynolds, Sabrina E. Russo, Lawren Sack, Pavel Šamonil, I. Fang Sun, Mark E. Swanson, Jill Thompson, Maria Uriarte, John Vandermeer, Xihua Wang, Ian Ware, George D. Weiblen, Amy Wolf, Shu Hui Wu, Jess K. Zimmerman, Thomas Lauber, Daniel S. Maynard, Thomas W. Crowther, Colin Averill

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

20 Scopus citations

Abstract

One mechanism proposed to explain high species diversity in tropical systems is strong negative conspecific density dependence (CDD), which reduces recruitment of juveniles in proximity to conspecific adult plants. Although evidence shows that plant-specific soil pathogens can drive negative CDD, trees also form key mutualisms with mycorrhizal fungi, which may counteract these effects. Across 43 large-scale forest plots worldwide, we tested whether ectomycorrhizal tree species exhibit weaker negative CDD than arbuscular mycorrhizal tree species. We further tested for conmycorrhizal density dependence (CMDD) to test for benefit from shared mutualists. We found that the strength of CDD varies systematically with mycorrhizal type, with ectomycorrhizal tree species exhibiting higher sapling densities with increasing adult densities than arbuscular mycorrhizal tree species. Moreover, we found evidence of positive CMDD for tree species of both mycorrhizal types. Collectively, these findings indicate that mycorrhizal interactions likely play a foundational role in global forest diversity patterns and structure.

Original languageEnglish
Article number1066
Pages (from-to)1066
JournalCommunications Biology
Volume6
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 19 2023

Keywords

  • Mycorrhizae
  • Feedback
  • Symbiosis
  • Plants/microbiology
  • Soil

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