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Data from: Mycorrhizal symbiosis increases plant phylogenetic diversity and regulate community assembly

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Jun 03, 2024 version files 274.94 KB
Sep 19, 2024 version files 27.84 MB

Abstract

The intricate mechanisms shaping plant diversity and community composition are the cornerstone of ecological understanding.  Yet, the role of mycorrhizal symbiosis, the fundamental partnership between fungi and plant roots, in influencing community composition has often been underestimated.  Here, we use extensive species survey data from 1,315 terrestrial ecosystem sites to elucidate the influence of mycorrhizal symbiosis on plant phylogenetic diversity and its implications for community assembly processes.  Our findings demonstrate that increasing mycorrhizal symbiotic potential leads to greater phylogenetic dispersion within plant communities. Furthermore, we unveil a distinct dichotomy in the assembly processes governed by mycorrhizal status. Mycorrhizal species predominantly influence deterministic processes, suggesting a role in niche-based community assembly.  Conversely, non-mycorrhizal species exert a stronger influence on stochastic processes, highlighting the importance of random events in shaping community structure.  These results underscore the crucial but often hidden role of mycorrhizal symbiosis in driving plant community diversity and assembly. This study provides valuable insights into the complex mechanisms shaping ecological communities and the way for more informed conservation and management practices that acknowledge the complex interplay between symbiosis and ecological community dynamics.