Ericaceous plant–fungus network in a harsh alpine–subalpine environment

• DOI: 10.1111/mec.13680
• Publication Date: 2016-05-02T16:41:55Z
• Authors: H. Toju; A. S. Tanabe; H. S. Ishii
• Keywords: Nestedness

In terrestrial ecosystems, plant species and diverse root-associated fungi form complex networks of host-symbiont associations. Recent studies have revealed that structures those below-ground plant-fungus differ between arbuscular mycorrhizal ectomycorrhizal symbioses. Nonetheless, we still remain ignorant how ericaceous species, which dominate arctic alpine tundra, constitute with their fungi. Based on a high-throughput DNA sequencing data set, characterized the statistical properties network involving 16 more than 500 fungal taxa in alpine-subalpine region Mt. Tateyama, central Japan. While all were associated mainly order Helotiales, they varied remarkably association other orders such as Sebacinales, Atheliales, Agaricales, Russulales Thelephorales. The was by high symbiont/host preferences. Moreover, had characteristic structure called 'anti-nestedness', has been previously reported networks. results lead to hypothesis plants harsh environments can host unexpectedly taxa, constituting whose are similar but not ones.