Shifts in dominant tree mycorrhizal associations in response to anthropogenic impacts

• DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.aav6358
• Publication Date: 2019-04-10T23:15:28Z
• Authors: Insu Jo; Songlin Fei; Christopher M. Os...; Grant M. Domke; Richard P. Phillips
• Keywords: Dominance (genetics); Nutrient cycle; Global Change; Cycling; Ectomycorrhiza

Plant-fungal symbioses play critical roles in vegetation dynamics and nutrient cycling, modulating the impacts of global changes on ecosystem functioning. Here, we used forest inventory data consisting more than 3 million trees to develop a spatially resolved "mycorrhizal tree map" contiguous United States. We show that abundances two dominant mycorrhizal groups-arbuscular (AM) ectomycorrhizal trees-are associated primarily with climate. Further, anthropogenic influences, nitrogen (N) deposition fire suppression, concert climate change, have increased AM dominance during past three decades eastern Given most AM-dominated forests this region are underlain by soils high N availability, our results suggest increasing abundance has potential induce acceleration, consequences for productivity, carbon retention, feedbacks change.