ITS amplicon Raw sequence reads
Differences between arbuscular (AM) and ectomycorrhizal (EcM) trees can strongly influence forest ecosystem processes, including soil organic matter accumulation, decomposition rates and nitrogen availability. Ericoid mycorrhizal (ErM) fungi, which associate with understory shrubs in ~70% of temperate forests, can also shape nutrient cycling by slowing decomposition rates and intensifying nitrogen limitation in forests. Yet how understory ErM shrubs modify the influence of AM versus EcM trees has been little researched. We investigate the depth distributions of fungal communities in paired subplots with and without ErM shrubs across an AM to EcM tree dominance gradient at an eastern temperate forest, creating an orthogonal study design allowing for ErM specific effects to be identified.