Mycorrhizal features and leaf traits covary at the community level during primary succession. (August 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Jespersen, J. Rasmus P.; Johansen, Jesper Liengaard; Rabelo Pereira, Camilla Maciel; Bruun, Hans Henrik; Rosendahl, Søren; Kjøller, Rasmus; López-García, Álvaro
• Is Part Of: Fungal ecology. Volume 40(2019)
• Page Start: 4
• Page End: 11
• Publication Date: 2019-08
• Subjects: Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi -- Community assembly -- Primary succession -- Ecosystem development -- Life history traits -- Sand dunes -- Environmental filtering -- Symbiosis; Fungi -- Ecology -- Periodicals; Mycology -- Periodicals; 579.517
• DOI: 10.1016/j.funeco.2018.11.013
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1754-5048

Abstract

Abstract: The mycorrhizal association between fungi and plants is thought to be an important component of the functional diversity of plant communities, although evidence is weak. We explored community-level changes to mycorrhizal features and leaf traits along a primary successional gradient on a sedimentation coast. We found that community weighted mean values of mycorrhizal features and leaf traits varied systematically along the successional series, representing a transition from communities dominated by more stress-tolerant plant species (less mycorrhizal colonization and lower specific leaf area) to less stress-tolerant plant species (higher mycorrhizal colonization and specific leaf area). Despite the co-variation in leaf traits and mycorrhizal features at the community level, only mycorrhizal features showed an increasing functional diversity with successional age. These results suggest that mycorrhizal fungi should not be forgotten in trait-based plant community ecology. Highlights: Mycorrhizal associations are important components of functional diversity. Community mycorrhizal features and leaf traits covary during plant succession. At plant species level, leaf and mycorrhizal traits are decoupled. Mycorrhizal features reveal additional dimensions on plant functional diversity.