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. Show more
Permanent link
https://doi.org/10.3929/ethz-b-000639000Publication status
publishedExternal links
Journal / series
Communications BiologyVolume
Pages / Article No.
Publisher
NatureSubject
Biodiversity; Biogeography; Forest ecologyOrganisational unit
09625 - Crowther, Thomas Ward / Crowther, Thomas Ward
Funding
209925 - Global Drivers of Plant-Associated Microbial Communities: Consequences for Forest Diversity (SNF)
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