scholarly journals Distinct effects of host and neighbour tree identity on arbuscular and ectomycorrhizal fungi along a tree diversity gradient

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Olga Ferlian ◽  
Kezia Goldmann ◽  
Nico Eisenhauer ◽  
Mika T. Tarkka ◽  
Francois Buscot ◽  
...  

Plant diversity and plant-related ecosystem functions have been in focus in biodiversity-ecosystem functioning studies. However, in this context, biotic interactions with mycorrhizal fungi have been understudied although they are crucial for plant-resource acquisition. We investigated the effects of tree species richness, tree mycorrhizal type on arbuscular (AMF) and ectomycorrhizal fungal (EMF) communities. We aimed to understand how dissimilarities in taxa composition and beta-diversity are related to target trees and neighbours of the same/different mycorrhizal type. We sampled a tree experiment with saplings (~7 years old), where tree species richness (monocultures, 2-species, and 4-species mixtures) and mycorrhizal type were manipulated. AMF and EMF richness significantly increased with increasing tree species richness. AMF richness of mixture plots resembled that of the sum of the respective monocultures, whereas EMF richness of mixture plots was lower compared to the sum of the respective monocultures. Specialisation scores revealed significantly more specialised AMF than EMF suggesting that, in contrast to previous studies, AMF were more specialised, whereas EMF were not. We further found that AMF communities were little driven by the surrounding trees, whereas EMF communities were. Our study revealed the drivers of mycorrhizal fungal communities and further highlights the distinct strategies of AMF and EMF.

2017 ◽  
Vol 284 (1862) ◽  
pp. 20171489 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andreas Schuldt ◽  
Felix Fornoff ◽  
Helge Bruelheide ◽  
Alexandra-Maria Klein ◽  
Michael Staab

Interactions across trophic levels influence plant diversity effects on ecosystem functions, but the complexity of these interactions remains poorly explored. For example, the interplay between different interactions (e.g. mutualism, predation) might be an important moderator of biodiversity–ecosystem function relationships. We tested for relationships between trophobioses (facultative ant–hemipteran mutualism) and leaf chewer herbivory in a subtropical forest biodiversity experiment. We analysed trophobiosis and herbivory data of more than 10 000 trees along a tree species richness gradient. Against expectations, chewing damage was higher on trees with trophobioses. However, the net positive relationship between trophobioses and overall herbivory depended on tree species richness, being most pronounced at low richness. Our results point to indirect, positive effects of ant-tended sap suckers on leaf chewers, potentially by altering plant defences. Direct antagonistic relationships of trophobiotic ants and leaf-chewing herbivores—frequently reported to drive community-wide effects of trophobioses in other ecosystems—seemed less relevant. However, antagonistic interactions likely contributed to the attenuating effect of tree species richness, because trophobiotic ant and herbivore communities changed from monocultures to species-rich mixtures. Our findings, therefore, suggest that biodiversity loss might lead to complex changes in higher trophic level effects on ecosystem functions, mediated by both trophic and non-trophic interactions.


2019 ◽  
Vol 29 (3) ◽  
pp. 799-815
Author(s):  
Victor P. Zwiener ◽  
André A. Padial ◽  
Márcia C. M. Marques

2018 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 322-330
Author(s):  
Rong Sun ◽  
Xiaojie Luo ◽  
Xiangyu Meng ◽  
Yan Wang

Abstract The streams in a watershed form a hierarchical network system. From the perspective of the river continuum, this classification system is the result of gradual increase in traffic. This study analyzed the riparian species richness, diversity and environmental factors along a six-order hierarchical mountain river in the Donghe watershed, China. A total of 34 sampling sites were sampled to study the spatial distribution of riparian plants among different stream orders. The results showed: Environmental factors among stream orders had significant differences. Among stream order, species richness showed remarkable differences. The species richness rose firstly and dropped afterwards except for tree species richness; tree species richness decreased while stream order increased. The same is true for shrub quadrat species richness. Shannon-Wiener diversity, Simpson dominance and Pielou uniformity showed significant difference among stream orders; Shannon-Wiener diversity rose firstly then dropped afterwards. For integrated environmental factors and community characteristics, we found the changes of stream orders had a significant impact on riparian habitats and riparian vegetation. Further analysis showed that riparian vegetation experienced different types and degrees of disturbance in different stream orders. This meant that a hierarchical management strategy should be applied to riparian vegetation management.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 73-83
Author(s):  
MAHEDI HASAN LIMON ◽  
SAIDA HOSSAIN ARA ◽  
MOHAMMAD GOLAM KIBRIA

Natural regeneration is an indicator of a healthy forest, hence, understanding the influence of site factors on natural regeneration is a significant concern for ecologists. This work aimed to assess the impact of site factors on natural tree regeneration at Khadimnagar National Park (KNP). Biotic factors (tree density, tree species richness, and basal area), physical factors (elevation, canopy openness), and soil properties (bulk density, moisture content, soil pH, organic matter, sand, silt, and clay) data were investigated from 71 sample plots to examine their effects on natural regeneration density and richness in KNP. Stepwise multiple linear regression analysis was done to predict both regeneration density and regeneration richness. The results showed that soil pH (p<0.001), canopy openness (p<0.001), tree species richness (p<0.01), and bulk density (p<0.01) had a significant effect on regeneration density, explaining 42% of the total variation. Regeneration richness was driven by four factors: tree species richness (p<0.01), soil pH (p<0.001), elevation (p<0.01), and canopy openness (p<0.01) with a model that explained 60% of the total variation. This study observed that soil pH, tree species richness, and canopy openness are the main controlling factors that influenced both the density and richness of regenerating species in KNP. Therefore, these findings have implications for natural resource management, especially in selecting suitable silvicultural systems in a tropical forest under protected area management where enhanced tree cover and conservation of biodiversity are needed.


Ecology ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 100 (4) ◽  
pp. e02653 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lionel R. Hertzog ◽  
Roschong Boonyarittichaikij ◽  
Daan Dekeukeleire ◽  
Stefanie R. E. de Groote ◽  
Irene M. van Schrojenstein Lantman ◽  
...  

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