Global mycorrhizal plant distribution linked to terrestrial carbon stocks

• DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-13019-2
• Publication Date: 2019-11-07T11:05:58Z
• Authors: Nadejda A. Soudzi...; Peter M. van Bodegom; César Terrer; Maarten van’t Zelfde; Ian McCallum; M. Luke McCormack; Joshua B. Fisher; Mark C. Brundrett; Nuno César de Sá; Leho Tedersoo
• Keywords: Biome; Terrestrial ecosystem; Biogeochemistry; Ectomycorrhiza; Biogeochemical Cycle; Topsoil; Soil carbon; Terrestrial plant

Vegetation impacts on ecosystem functioning are mediated by mycorrhizas, plant-fungal associations formed most plant species. Ecosystems dominated distinct mycorrhizal types differ strongly in their biogeochemistry. Quantitative analyses of hindered the scarcity information distributions. Here we present global, high-resolution maps vegetation biomass distribution dominant associations. Arbuscular, ectomycorrhizal, and ericoid store, respectively, 241 ± 15, 100 17, 7 1.8 GT carbon aboveground biomass, whereas non-mycorrhizal stores 29 5.5 carbon. Soil stocks both topsoil subsoil positively related to community-level fraction ectomycorrhizal plants, though strength this relationship varies across biomes. We show that human-induced transformations Earth's ecosystems have reduced vegetation, with potential ramifications terrestrial stocks. Our work provides a benchmark for spatially explicit globally quantitative assessments biogeochemical cycling.