Network traits predict ecological strategies in fungi

• DOI: 10.1038/s43705-021-00085-1
• Publication Date: 2022-01-05T12:03:26Z
• Authors: C A Aguilar-Trigu...; L Boddy; M C Rillig; M D Fricker
• Keywords: Robustness; Ecological network

Colonization of terrestrial environments by filamentous fungi relies on their ability to form networks that can forage for and connect resource patches. Despite the importance these networks, ecologists rarely consider network features as functional traits because measurement interpretation are conceptually methodologically difficult. To address challenges, we have developed a pipeline translate images fungal mycelia, from both micro- macro-scales, weighted graphs capture ecologically relevant behaviour. We focus four properties hypothesize determine how resources, specifically: connectivity; relative construction cost; transport efficiency; robustness against attack fungivores. Constrained ordination Pareto front analysis revealed foraging strategies be distinguished predominantly along gradient connectivity macro-scale mycelial is reminiscent qualitative 'phalanx' 'guerilla' descriptors previously proposed in literature. At one extreme species with many inter-connections increase paths multidirectional damage, but high at other an opposite phenotype. Thus, propose this approach represents significant advance quantifying ecological using information.