Invasive plants decrease arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal diversity and promote generalist fungal partners.

ABSTRACT: Invasion by exotic plants is a major threat to ecosystem biodiversity globally. Although mutualistic belowground associations can play a significant role in successful invasion, studies have shown mixed results regarding the effects of plant invasion on arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF). Here, we tested how exotic dominance (i.e. invasion extent) in plant communities impacts arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal community diversity, composition, and generalism at the scale of individual plants and plant communities, and whether these impacts are explained or moderated by plant root traits (root diameter). We characterized root traits and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal communities in the roots of native and exotic plants growing together in experimental plant communities that ranged in invasion ext

SUBMITTER: Ramana JV 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12329189 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature