Saprotrophic fungal diversity predicts ectomycorrhizal fungal diversity along the timberline in the framework of island biogeography theory.

ABSTRACT: Island biogeography theory (IBT) is one of the most fruitful paradigms in macroecology, positing positive species-area and negative species-isolation relationships for the distribution of organisms. Biotic interactions are also crucial for diversity maintenance on islands. In the context of a timberline tree species (Betula ermanii) as "virtual island", we surveyed ectomycorrhizal (EcM) fungal diversity along a 430-m vertical gradient on the top of Changbai Mountain, China, sampling fine roots and neighboring soils of B. ermanii. Besides elevation, soil properties and plant functional traits, endophytic and saprotrophic fungal diversity were assessed as candidate predictors to construct integrative models. EcM fungal diversity decreased with increasing elevation, and exhibited positive div

SUBMITTER: Yang T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9723781 | biostudies-literature | 2021 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature