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Mycorrhizal types regulate tree spatial associations in temperate forests: ectomycorrhizal trees might favor species coexistence

Mao, Zikun1; Wiegand, Thorsten2; Corrales, Adriana3; Fang, Shuai1; Hao, Zhanqing4; Lin, Fei1; Ye, Ji1; Yuan, Zuoqiang4; Wang, Xugao1

Published Oct 09, 2024 on Dryad. https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.t4b8gtj93

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Oct 09, 2024 version files 84 KB

Abstract

In temperate mixed forests, dominant ectomycorrhizal (EM) tree species usually coexist with diverse arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) understorey tree species. Here we investigated the spatial associations between AM and EM trees in two > 20 ha temperate forest mega-plots to better understand the observed “EM-dominant vs. AM-diverse” coexistence. Overall, we found that positive spatial associations (e.g., facilitation) were mostly related to EM trees, while negative spatial associations (e.g., inhibition) were mainly related to AM trees. Because adult EM trees tended to facilitate surrounding AM and EM saplings and other EM adults in these two forests, facilitation hotspots that stabilize AM-EM tree coexistence should be centered around EM tree species rather than around AM tree species. Together, despite some species-specific variation, we propose a novel EM-stabilization mechanism, which emphasizes how EM tree species foster “EM-dominant vs. AM-diverse” coexistence in temperate mixed forests by facilitating other trees.