Mycorrhizal feedbacks influence global forest structure and diversity

Authors

• Camille S. Delavaux, ETH ZürichFollow
• Joseph A. LaManna, Marquette University
• Jonathan A. Myers, Washington University in St. Louis
• Richard P. Phillips, Indiana University Bloomington
• Salomón Aguilar, Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute
• David Allen, Middlebury College
• Alfonso Alonso, National Zoological Park
• Kristina J. Anderson-Teixeira, Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute
• Matthew E. Baker, University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC)
• Jennifer L. Baltzer, Wilfrid Laurier University
• Pulchérie Bissiengou, Herbier National du Gabon
• Mariana Bonfim, Temple University
• Norman A. Bourg, National Zoological Park
• Warren Y. Brockelman, Thailand National Science and Technology Development Agency
• David F.R.P. Burslem, University of Aberdeen
• Li Wan Chang, Taiwan Forestry Research Institute
• Yang Chen, Sun Yat-Sen University
• Jyh Min Chiang, Tunghai University
• Chengjin Chu, Sun Yat-Sen University
• Keith Clay, Tulane University
• Susan Cordell, USDA Forest Service
• Mary Cortese, Temple University
• Jan den Ouden, Wageningen University & Research
• Christopher Dick, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
• Sisira Ediriweera, Uva Wellassa University
• Erle C. Ellis, University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC)
• Anna Feistner, Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute
• Amy L. Freestone, Temple University
• Thomas Giambelluca, University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa
• Christian P. Giardina, USDA Forest Service
• Gregory S. Gilbert, University of California, Santa Cruz
• Fangliang He, University of Alberta
• Jan Holík, Vyzkumny ústav Silva Taroucy pro krajinu a okrasné zahradnictví, v.v.i.
• Robert W. Howe, University of Wisconsin-Green Bay
• Walter Huaraca Huasca, University of Oxford
• Stephen P. Hubbell, University of California, Los Angeles
• Faith Inman, University of Hawaii at Hilo
• Patrick A. Jansen, Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute
• Daniel J. Johnson, University of Florida
• Kamil Kral, Vyzkumny ústav Silva Taroucy pro krajinu a okrasné zahradnictví, v.v.i.
• Sabrina E. Russo, University of Nebraska - LincolnFollow
• et al.

Document Type

Article

Date of this Version

12-1-2023

Citation

COMMUNICATIONS BIOLOGY (2023) 6:1066

doi:10.1038/s42003-023-05410-z

Comments

Copyright © 2023 by the authors.

Open Access This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License,

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.