Mutualistic associations between plants and arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM)
fungi may have profound influences on their response to climate changes.
Existing theories evaluate the effects of interdependency and
environmental filtering on plant-AM fungal community dynamics
separately; however, abrupt environmental changes such as climate
extremes can provoke duo-impacts on the metacommunity simultaneously.
Here, we experimentally tested the relevance of plant and AM fungal
community responses to extreme drought (chronic or intense) in a cold
temperate grassland. Irrespective of drought intensities, plant species
richness and productivity responses were significantly and positively
correlated with AM fungal richness and also served as best predictors of
AM fungal community shifts. Notably, the robustness of this community
synergism increased with drought intensity, likely reflecting increased
community interdependence. Network analysis showed a key role of
Glomerales in AM fungal interaction with plants, suggesting specific
plant-AM fungal pairing. Thus, community interdependence may underpin
climate change impact on plant-AM fungal diversity patterns in
grasslands.
Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal community responses to drought and nitrogen fertilization in switchgrass stands
