Tree species identity and diversity drive fungal richness and community composition along an elevational gradient in a Mediterranean ecosystem

Tree species identity is one of the key factors driving ectomycorrhizal (EcM) fungal richness and community composition in boreal and temperate forest ecosystems, but little is known about the influence of tree species combinations and their neighborhood effects on EcM communities. To advance our understanding of host plant effects on EcM fungi, the roots of silver birch, Scots pine, and Norway spruce were analyzed using high-throughput sequencing across mature boreal forest exploratory plots of monocultures and two- and three-species mixtures in Finland. Our analyses revealed that tree species identity was an important determinant of EcM fungal community composition, but tree species richness had no significant influence on EcM fungal richness and community composition. We found that EcM fungal community composition associated with spruce depends on neighboring tree species. Our study suggests that at a regional-scale tree species identity is the primary factor determining community composition of root-associated EcM fungi alongside with tree species composition effects on EcM fungal community of spruce in mixed stands.

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Tree Species Diversity, Composition and Aboveground Biomass Across Dry Forest Land-Cover Types in Coastal Ecuador

Tropical Conservation Science ◽

10.1177/1940082921995415 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 14 ◽

pp. 194008292199541

Author(s):

Xavier Haro-Carrión ◽

Bette Loiselle ◽

Francis E. Putz

Keyword(s):

Species Diversity ◽

Land Cover ◽

Community Composition ◽

Aboveground Biomass ◽

Tree Species ◽

Dry Forest ◽

Stem Density ◽

Tree Species Diversity ◽

Land Cover Types ◽

Schizolobium Parahyba

Tropical dry forests (TDF) are highly threatened ecosystems that are often fragmented due to land-cover change. Using plot inventories, we analyzed tree species diversity, community composition and aboveground biomass patterns across mature (MF) and secondary forests of about 25 years since cattle ranching ceased (SF), 10–20-year-old plantations (PL), and pastures in a TDF landscape in Ecuador. Tree diversity was highest in MF followed by SF, pastures and PL, but many endemic and endangered species occurred in both MF and SF, which demonstrates the importance of SF for species conservation. Stem density was higher in PL, followed by SF, MF and pastures. Community composition differed between MF and SF due to the presence of different specialist species. Some SF specialists also occurred in pastures, and all species found in pastures were also recorded in SF indicating a resemblance between these two land-cover types even after 25 years of succession. Aboveground biomass was highest in MF, but SF and Tectona grandis PL exhibited similar numbers followed by Schizolobium parahyba PL, Ochroma pyramidale PL and pastures. These findings indicate that although species-poor, some PL equal or surpass SF in aboveground biomass, which highlights the critical importance of incorporating biodiversity, among other ecosystem services, to carbon sequestration initiatives. This research contributes to understanding biodiversity conservation across a mosaic of land-cover types in a TDF landscape.

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Stand structure, community composition and tree species diversity of sub-tropical forest of Nagaland, Northeast India

Tropical Ecology ◽

10.1007/s42965-021-00170-5 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Aosanen Ao ◽

Sapu Changkija ◽

S. K. Tripathi

Keyword(s):

Species Diversity ◽

Tropical Forest ◽

Community Composition ◽

Tree Species ◽

Stand Structure ◽

Northeast India ◽

Tree Species Diversity ◽

Structure Community

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Soil carbon and nutrient stocks under Scots pine plantations in comparison to European beech forests: a paired-plot study across forests with different management history and precipitation regimes

Forest Ecosystems ◽

10.1186/s40663-021-00330-y ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 8 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Marco Diers ◽

Robert Weigel ◽

Heike Culmsee ◽

Christoph Leuschner

Keyword(s):

Scots Pine ◽

Tree Species ◽

European Beech ◽

Organic Layer ◽

Species Identity ◽

Data Set ◽

Nutrient Pools ◽

Total N ◽

Precipitation Regimes ◽

Pine Stands

Abstract Background Organic carbon stored in forest soils (SOC) represents an important element of the global C cycle. It is thought that the C storage capacity of the stable pool can be enhanced by increasing forest productivity, but empirical evidence in support of this assumption from forests differing in tree species and productivity, while stocking on similar substrate, is scarce. Methods We determined the stocks of SOC and macro-nutrients (nitrogen, phosphorus, calcium, potassium and magnesium) in nine paired European beech/Scots pine stands on similar Pleistocene sandy substrates across a precipitation gradient (560–820 mm∙yr− 1) in northern Germany and explored the influence of tree species, forest history, climate, and soil pH on SOC and nutrient pools. Results While the organic layer stored on average about 80% more C under pine than beech, the pools of SOC and total N in the total profile (organic layer plus mineral soil measured to 60 cm and extrapolated to 100 cm) were greater under pine by about 40% and 20%, respectively. This contrasts with a higher annual production of foliar litter and a much higher fine root biomass in beech stands, indicating that soil C sequestration is unrelated to the production of leaf litter and fine roots in these stands on Pleistocene sandy soils. The pools of available P and basic cations tended to be higher under beech. Neither precipitation nor temperature influenced the SOC pool, whereas tree species was a key driver. An extended data set (which included additional pine stands established more recently on former agricultural soil) revealed that, besides tree species identity, forest continuity is an important factor determining the SOC and nutrient pools of these stands. Conclusion We conclude that tree species identity can exert a considerable influence on the stocks of SOC and macronutrients, which may be unrelated to productivity but closely linked to species-specific forest management histories, thus masking weaker climate and soil chemistry effects on pool sizes.

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Can variation in seed removal patterns of Neotropical pioneer tree species be explained by local ant community composition?

Biotropica ◽

10.1111/btp.12904 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Selina A. Ruzi ◽

Paul‐Camilo Zalamea ◽

Daniel P. Roche ◽

Rafael Achury ◽

James W. Dalling ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Community Composition ◽

Tree Species ◽

Seed Removal ◽

Ant Community ◽

Pioneer Tree Species ◽

Pioneer Tree

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Assessing Genotypic and Environmental Effects on Endophyte Communities of Fraxinus (Ash) Using Culture Dependent and Independent DNA Sequencing

Journal of Fungi ◽

10.3390/jof7070565 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 7 (7) ◽

pp. 565

Author(s):

Anindita Lahiri ◽

Brian R. Murphy ◽

Trevor R. Hodkinson

Keyword(s):

Community Composition ◽

Environmental Effects ◽

High Throughput Sequencing ◽

Fungal Community Composition ◽

Species Identity ◽

Ash Dieback ◽

Hymenoscyphus Fraxineus ◽

Culture Independent ◽

The Impact ◽

Culture Dependent

Fraxinus excelsior populations are in decline due to the ash dieback disease Hymenoscyphus fraxineus. It is important to understand genotypic and environmental effects on its fungal microbiome to develop disease management strategies. To do this, we used culture dependent and culture independent approaches to characterize endophyte material from contrasting ash provenances, environments, and tissues (leaves, roots, seeds). Endophytes were isolated and identified using nrITS, LSU, or tef DNA loci in the culture dependent assessments, which were mostly Ascomycota and assigned to 37 families. Few taxa were shared between roots and leaves. The culture independent approach used high throughput sequencing (HTS) of nrITS amplicons directly from plant DNA and detected 35 families. Large differences were found in OTU diversity and community composition estimated by the contrasting approaches and these data need to be combined for estimations of the core endophyte communities. Species richness and Shannon index values were highest for the leaf material and the French population. Few species were shared between seed and leaf tissue. PCoA and NMDS of the HTS data showed that seed and leaf microbiome communities were highly distinct and that there was a strong influence of Fraxinus species identity on their fungal community composition. The results will facilitate a better understanding of ash fungal ecology and are a step toward identifying microbial biocontrol systems to minimize the impact of the disease.

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Effect of tree species identity and related habitat parameters on understorey bryophytes – interrelationships between bryophyte, soil and tree factors in a 50-year-old experimental forest

Plant and Soil ◽

10.1007/s11104-021-05074-w ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Kaja Rola ◽

Vítězslav Plášek ◽

Katarzyna Rożek ◽

Szymon Zubek

Keyword(s):

Species Richness ◽

Tree Species ◽

Forest Floor ◽

Vascular Plant ◽

Soil Parameters ◽

Species Identity ◽

Habitat Factors ◽

Positive Correlations ◽

Old Trees ◽

Habitat Parameters

Abstract Aim Overstorey tree species influence both soil properties and microclimate conditions in the forest floor, which in turn can induce changes in ground bryophyte communities. The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of tree species identity and the most important habitat factors influencing understorey bryophytes. Methods We assessed the effect of 14 tree species and related habitat parameters, including soil parameters, vascular plant presence and light intensity on bryophytes in monospecific plots covered by nearly fifty-year-old trees in the Siemianice Experimental Forest (Poland). Results The canopy tree species determined bryophyte species richness and cover. The strongest differences were observed between plots with deciduous and coniferous trees. Soils with a more acidic pH and lower content of macronutrients supported larger bryophyte coverage. We also found a positive correlations between vascular plants and availability of light as well as bryophyte species richness. Conclusion Tree species identity and differences in habitat conditions in the forest floor lead to changes of ground bryophyte richness, cover and species composition. Consequently, the changes in the dominant tree species in the stand may result in significant repercussions on ground bryophyte communities. We indicated that the introduction of alien tree species, i.e. Quercus rubra, has an adverse effect on bryophyte communities and suggested that the selection of tree species that contribute to the community consistent with the potential natural vegetation is highly beneficial for maintaining ground bryophyte biodiversity.

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Rhizobacterial communities of five co-occurring desert halophytes

PeerJ ◽

10.7717/peerj.5508 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 6 ◽

pp. e5508 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Yan Li ◽

Yan Kong ◽

Dexiong Teng ◽

Xueni Zhang ◽

Xuemin He ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Bacterial Community ◽

Community Composition ◽

Plant Species ◽

Bacterial Communities ◽

Bacterial Community Composition ◽

Community Diversity ◽

Species Identity ◽

Halostachys Caspica ◽

Lycium Ruthenicum ◽

Limonium Gmelinii

BackgroundRecently, researches have begun to investigate the microbial communities associated with halophytes. Both rhizobacterial community composition and the environmental drivers of community assembly have been addressed. However, few studies have explored the structure of rhizobacterial communities associated with halophytic plants that are co-occurring in arid, salinized areas.MethodsFive halophytes were selected for study: these co-occurred in saline soils in the Ebinur Lake Nature Reserve, located at the western margin of the Gurbantunggut Desert of Northwestern China. Halophyte-associated bacterial communities were sampled, and the bacterial 16S rDNA V3–V4 region amplified and sequenced using the Illumina Miseq platform. The bacterial community diversity and structure were compared between the rhizosphere and bulk soils, as well as among the rhizosphere samples. The effects of plant species identity and soil properties on the bacterial communities were also analyzed.ResultsSignificant differences were observed between the rhizosphere and bulk soil bacterial communities. Diversity was higher in the rhizosphere than in the bulk soils. Abundant taxonomic groups (from phylum to genus) in the rhizosphere were much more diverse than in bulk soils. Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, Actinobacteria, Bacteroidetes and Planctomycetes were the most abundant phyla in the rhizosphere, while Proteobacteria and Firmicutes were common in bulk soils. Overall, the bacterial community composition were not significantly differentiated between the bulk soils of the five plants, but community diversity and structure differed significantly in the rhizosphere. The diversity ofHalostachys caspica,Halocnemum strobilaceumandKalidium foliatumassociated bacterial communities was lower than that ofLimonium gmeliniiandLycium ruthenicumcommunities. Furthermore, the composition of the bacterial communities ofHalostachys caspicaandHalocnemum strobilaceumwas very different from those ofLimonium gmeliniiandLycium ruthenicum. The diversity and community structure were influenced by soil EC, pH and nutrient content (TOC, SOM, TON and AP); of these, the effects of EC on bacterial community composition were less important than those of soil nutrients.DiscussionHalophytic plant species played an important role in shaping associated rhizosphere bacterial communities. When salinity levels were constant, soil nutrients emerged as key factors structuring bacterial communities, while EC played only a minor role. Pairwise differences among the rhizobacterial communities associated with different plant species were not significant, despite some evidence of differentiation. Further studies involving more halophyte species, and individuals per species, are necessary to elucidate plant species identity effects on the rhizosphere for co-occurring halophytes.

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