Mycorrhizal dominance influences tree species richness and richness-biomass relationship in China’s forests
Data files
Nov 21, 2024 version files 148.14 KB
Abstract
Mycorrhizal associations drive plant community diversity and ecosystem functions. Arbuscular mycorrhizas (AM) and ectomycorrhizas (EcM) are two widespread mycorrhizal types and are thought to differentially affect plant diversity and productivity by nutrient acquisition and plant-soil feedback. However, it remains unclear how the mixture of two mycorrhizal types influences tree diversity, forest biomass and their relationship at large spatial scales. Here, we explored these issues using data from 1247 plots (600 m2 for each) across China’s natural forests located mostly in temperate and subtropical regions. Both AM-dominated and EcM-dominated forests show relatively lower tree species richness and stand biomass, whereas forests with the mixture of mycorrhizal strategies sustain more tree species and higher biomass. Interestingly, the positive effect of tree diversity on biomass is stronger in forests with low (≤50%) than high AM tree proportion (>50%), reflecting a shift from the complementarity effect to functional redundancy with increasing AM trees. Our findings suggest that mycorrhizal dominance influences tree diversity and richness-biomass relationship in forest ecosystems.
https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.x69p8cztv
Description of the data and file structure
Files and variables
File: Data_of_biomass__tree_species_richness_and_mycorrhizal_dominance_in_China_s_forests.xlsx
Description: Data of biomass, tree species richness and mycorrhizal dominance in China's forests
Variables
Abbreviation|Variable|Unit|Legend
plot ID | Plot id | A plot with an area of 600 m2 (20m * 30m)
site_Province| Sampling site in province-level division in China
Biomass | Forest biomass| Mg/ha|Total tree biomass (DBH≥3cm)
Richness | Tree species richness|Species richness of trees (DBH≥3cm) in each plot (600m2)
AM |Arbuscular mycorrhizal proportion|%|Proportion of arbuscular mycorrhizal trees
EcM|ectomycorrhizal proportion|%|Proportion of ectomycorrhizal trees
SOC|%|Soil organic carbon content
TN |% |Soil nitrogen content
TP |% |Soil phosphorus content
pH |pH value
Clay|% |Soil clay content
MAP|mm |Mean annual precipitation
MAT|℃ |Mean annual temperature