Specificity between Neotropical tree seedlings and their fungal mutualists leads to plant–soil feedback

• DOI: 10.1890/09-0396.1
• Publication Date: 2010-06-22T05:04:14Z
• Authors: Scott A. Mangan; Edward A. Herre; James D. Bever
• Keywords: Nestedness

A growing body of evidence obtained largely from temperate grassland studies suggests that feedbacks occurring between plants and their associated soil biota are important to plant community assemblage. However, few have examined the importance organisms in driving plant–soil forested systems. In a tropical forest central Panama, we whether interactions tree seedlings arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) lead feedback. Specifically, do modify own AMF communities manner either favors or inhibits next cohort conspecific (i.e., positive negative feedback, respectively)? Seedlings two shade‐tolerant species ( Eugenia nesiotica , Virola surinamensis ) pioneer Luehea seemannii Apeiba aspera were grown pots containing identical composed equal amounts inoculum six co‐occurring species. The different AMF–host combinations all exposed light levels. Under low (2% PAR), only sporulated, found host identity did not influence composition spore communities. relative abundances three four produced spores influenced by when under high (20% PAR). Furthermore, one species, Glomus geosporum common soils but absent . We then conducted reciprocal experiment test previously modified differentially affected growth heterospecific seedlings. seedling differ significantly larger with ‐modified communities, as compared ‐modifed Our experiments suggest trees species‐specific these may shape both through