Abstract
Host identity has been recognized as a key determinant of the structure of ectomycorrhizal (ECM) fungal communities, but the importance of neighboring ECM hosts is less well understood. To investigate the relative importance of host and neighborhood effects, we examined the ECM fungal communities associated with Alnus rhombifolia, a host of specific ECM fungi, and Betula occidentalis, a host of generalist ECM fungi. We hypothesized that the host-specific Alnus-associated ECM fungal community would not be susceptible to the influence of plant neighborhood, while the generalist Betula-associated community would. ECM fungal communities on both hosts were characterized using ITS sequences derived from conspecific and heterospecific host settings at a field site in western Idaho, USA, and from a growth chamber bioassay. In the field study, the Betula neighborhood added minor constituents to the Alnus ECM fungal community, while in the bioassay, late planting of Betula generated strong priority effects that allowed the established Alnus neighborhood to control the structure of the Betula community. Our results indicate that while host identity acts as a primary filter on the composition and diversity of ECM fungal communities, proximity to a closely related host can mediate significant changes in community structure.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 767-777 |
| Number of pages | 11 |
| Journal | FEMS Microbiology Ecology |
| Volume | 83 |
| Issue number | 3 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Mar 1 2013 |
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Keywords
- Alnus
- Betula
- Community structure
- Ectomycorrhiza
- Host identity
- Neighborhood effects
Cite this
New wrinkles in an old paradigm : Neighborhood effects can modify the structure and specificity of Alnus-associated ectomycorrhizal fungal communities. / Bogar, Laura M.; Kennedy, Peter G.
In: FEMS Microbiology Ecology, Vol. 83, No. 3, 01.03.2013, p. 767-777.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - New wrinkles in an old paradigm
T2 - Neighborhood effects can modify the structure and specificity of Alnus-associated ectomycorrhizal fungal communities
AU - Bogar, Laura M.
AU - Kennedy, Peter G.
PY - 2013/3/1
Y1 - 2013/3/1
N2 - Host identity has been recognized as a key determinant of the structure of ectomycorrhizal (ECM) fungal communities, but the importance of neighboring ECM hosts is less well understood. To investigate the relative importance of host and neighborhood effects, we examined the ECM fungal communities associated with Alnus rhombifolia, a host of specific ECM fungi, and Betula occidentalis, a host of generalist ECM fungi. We hypothesized that the host-specific Alnus-associated ECM fungal community would not be susceptible to the influence of plant neighborhood, while the generalist Betula-associated community would. ECM fungal communities on both hosts were characterized using ITS sequences derived from conspecific and heterospecific host settings at a field site in western Idaho, USA, and from a growth chamber bioassay. In the field study, the Betula neighborhood added minor constituents to the Alnus ECM fungal community, while in the bioassay, late planting of Betula generated strong priority effects that allowed the established Alnus neighborhood to control the structure of the Betula community. Our results indicate that while host identity acts as a primary filter on the composition and diversity of ECM fungal communities, proximity to a closely related host can mediate significant changes in community structure.
AB - Host identity has been recognized as a key determinant of the structure of ectomycorrhizal (ECM) fungal communities, but the importance of neighboring ECM hosts is less well understood. To investigate the relative importance of host and neighborhood effects, we examined the ECM fungal communities associated with Alnus rhombifolia, a host of specific ECM fungi, and Betula occidentalis, a host of generalist ECM fungi. We hypothesized that the host-specific Alnus-associated ECM fungal community would not be susceptible to the influence of plant neighborhood, while the generalist Betula-associated community would. ECM fungal communities on both hosts were characterized using ITS sequences derived from conspecific and heterospecific host settings at a field site in western Idaho, USA, and from a growth chamber bioassay. In the field study, the Betula neighborhood added minor constituents to the Alnus ECM fungal community, while in the bioassay, late planting of Betula generated strong priority effects that allowed the established Alnus neighborhood to control the structure of the Betula community. Our results indicate that while host identity acts as a primary filter on the composition and diversity of ECM fungal communities, proximity to a closely related host can mediate significant changes in community structure.
KW - Alnus
KW - Betula
KW - Community structure
KW - Ectomycorrhiza
KW - Host identity
KW - Neighborhood effects
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84873186707&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84873186707&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1111/1574-6941.12032
DO - 10.1111/1574-6941.12032
M3 - Article
C2 - 23078526
AN - SCOPUS:84873186707
VL - 83
SP - 767
EP - 777
JO - FEMS Microbiology Ecology
JF - FEMS Microbiology Ecology
SN - 0168-6496
IS - 3
ER -