title: Impact of alien pines on local arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal communities-evidence from two continents.
abstract: The introduction of alien plants can influence biodiversity and ecosystems. However, its consequences for soil microbial communities remain poorly understood. We addressed the impact of alien ectomycorrhizal (EcM) pines on local arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungal communities in two regions with contrasting biogeographic histories: in South Africa, where no native EcM plant species are present; and in Argentina, where EcM trees occur naturally. The effect of alien pines on AM fungal communities differed between these regions. In South Africa, plantations of alien EcM pines exhibited lower AM fungal richness and significantly altered community composition, compared with native fynbos. In Argentina, the richness and composition of local AM fungal communities were similar in plantations of alien EcM pines and native forest. However, the presence of alien pines resulted in slight changes to the phylogenetic structure of root AM fungal communities in both regions. In pine clearcut areas in South Africa, the richness and composition of AM fungal communities were intermediate between the native fynbos and the alien pine plantation, which is consistent with natural regeneration of former AM fungal communities following pine removal. We conclude that the response of local AM fungal communities to alien EcM pines differs between biogeographic regions with different histories of species coexistence.
authors.affiliation: Pyrenean Institute of Ecology (CSIC), Avda. Montañana 1005, Apdo. 202, 50192 Zaragoza, Spain.
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gazol
authors.affiliation: Department of Botany, Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Tartu, Lai 40, Tartu, 51005, Estonia.
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zobel
authors.affiliation: Department of Agronomy, Faculty of Agronomy and Veterinary Sciences, National University of Rio Cuarto, Ruta Nac. 36-Km. 601-X5804BYA Río Cuarto, Córdoba, Argentina.
authors.forename: Juan José
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Cantero
authors.affiliation: Department of Botany, Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Tartu, Lai 40, Tartu, 51005, Estonia.
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Davison
authors.affiliation: Department of Conservation Ecology and Entomology and Centre for Invasion Biology, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag x1, Matieland, 7602, South Africa.
authors.forename: Karen J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Esler
authors.affiliation: Department of Botany, Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Tartu, Lai 40, Tartu, 51005, Estonia teele.jairus@ut.ee.
authors.forename: Teele
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Jairus
authors.affiliation: Department of Botany, Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Tartu, Lai 40, Tartu, 51005, Estonia.
authors.forename: Maarja
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Öpik
authors.affiliation: Department of Botany, Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Tartu, Lai 40, Tartu, 51005, Estonia.
authors.forename: Martti
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vasar
authors.affiliation: Department of Botany, Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Tartu, Lai 40, Tartu, 51005, Estonia.
authors.forename: Mari
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Moora
mesh_terms: D001118:Argentina; D044822:Biodiversity; D017753:Ecosystem; D065928:Forests; D058865:Introduced Species; D038821:Mycorrhizae / Q000145:classification* / Q000254:growth & development*; D010802:Phylogeny; D028223:Pinus / Q000382:microbiology*; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000382:microbiology*; D012987:Soil; D012988:Soil Microbiology; D013019:South Africa
chemical_list: D012987:Soil
keywords: afforestation; alien species; arbuscular mycorrhiza; biogeography; ectomycorrhiza