title: Phylogenetic and functional traits of ectomycorrhizal assemblages in top soil from different biogeographic regions and forest types.
abstract: Ectomycorrhizal (EM) fungal taxonomic, phylogenetic, and trait diversity (exploration types) were analyzed in beech and conifer forests along a north-to-south gradient in three biogeographic regions in Germany. The taxonomic community structures of the ectomycorrhizal assemblages in top soil were influenced by stand density and forest type, by biogeographic environmental factors (soil physical properties, temperature, and precipitation), and by nitrogen forms (amino acids, ammonium, and nitrate). While α-diversity did not differ between forest types, β-diversity increased, leading to higher γ-diversity on the landscape level when both forest types were present. The highest taxonomic diversity of EM was found in forests in cool, moist climate on clay and silty soils and the lowest in the forests in warm, dry climate on sandy soils. In the region with higher taxonomic diversity, phylogenetic clustering was found, but not trait clustering. In the warm region, trait clustering occurred despite neutral phylogenetic effects. These results suggest that different forest types and favorable environmental conditions in forests promote high EM species richness in top soil presumably with both high functional diversity and phylogenetic redundancy, while stressful environmental conditions lead to lower species richness and functional redundancy.
authors.affiliation: Forstbotanik und Baumphysiologie, Büsgen-Institut, Georg-August Universität Göttingen, Büsgenweg 2, 37077, Göttingen, Germany.
authors.forename: Rodica
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pena
authors.affiliation: Forstbotanik und Baumphysiologie, Büsgen-Institut, Georg-August Universität Göttingen, Büsgenweg 2, 37077, Göttingen, Germany.|Faculty of Communication and Environment, Rhine-Waal University of Applied Science, Friedrich-Heinrich-Allee 24, 47475, Kamp-Lintfort, Germany.
authors.forename: Christa
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lang
authors.affiliation: Forstbotanik und Baumphysiologie, Büsgen-Institut, Georg-August Universität Göttingen, Büsgenweg 2, 37077, Göttingen, Germany.|Bergische Universität Wuppertal, Molekulare Pflanzenforschung/Pflanzenbiochemie, Gaußstr. 20, 42119, Wuppertal, Germany.
authors.forename: Gertrud
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lohaus
authors.affiliation: Institute of Plant Sciences and Botanical Garden, University of Bern, Altenbergrain 21, 3013, Bern, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Steffen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Boch
authors.affiliation: Waldbau und Waldökologie der gemäßigten Zonen, Burkhard Institut, Georg-August Universität Göttingen, Büsgenweg 1, 37077, Göttingen, Germany.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Schall
authors.affiliation: Max-Planck-Institute for Biogeochemistry, Department Biogeochemical Processes, Hans-Knöll-Str. 10, 07745, Jena, Germany.
authors.forename: Ingo
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Schöning
authors.affiliation: Waldbau und Waldökologie der gemäßigten Zonen, Burkhard Institut, Georg-August Universität Göttingen, Büsgenweg 1, 37077, Göttingen, Germany.
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ammer
authors.affiliation: Institute of Plant Sciences and Botanical Garden, University of Bern, Altenbergrain 21, 3013, Bern, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Markus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fischer
authors.affiliation: Forstbotanik und Baumphysiologie, Büsgen-Institut, Georg-August Universität Göttingen, Büsgenweg 2, 37077, Göttingen, Germany. apolle@gwdg.de.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Polle
mesh_terms: D044822:Biodiversity; D065928:Forests; D005858:Germany; D038821:Mycorrhizae / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics; D010802:Phylogeny; D058974:Phylogeography; D012987:Soil / Q000737:chemistry*; D012988:Soil Microbiology
chemical_list: D012987:Soil
keywords: Beech (Fagus sylvatica); Drought; Ectomycorrhiza; Exploration type; Nitrogen; Pine (Pinus sylvestris); Spruce (Picea abies)