Document Type
Article
Publication Date
2023
Publisher
Nature Publishing Group
Source Publication
Communications Biology
Source ISSN
2399-3642
Original Item ID
DOI: 10.1038/s42003-023-05410-z
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.
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Recommended Citation
Delavaux, Camille S.; LaManna, Joseph A.; Myers, Jonathan A.; and Phillips, Richard P., "Mycorrhizal Feedbacks Influence Global Forest Structure and Diversity" (2023). Biological Sciences Faculty Research and Publications. 957.
https://epublications.marquette.edu/bio_fac/957
Comments
Published version. Communications Biology, Vol. 6 (2023). DOI. © 2023 Nature Publishing Group (Macmillan Publishers Limited). Used with permission.
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