Does genotypic and species diversity of mycorrhizal plants and fungi affect ecosystem function?

• Published in: The New phytologist Vol. 220; no. 4; pp. 1122 - 1128
• Main Authors: Hazard, Christina, Johnson, David
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England New Phytologist Trust 01-12-2018; Wiley Subscription Services, Inc; Wiley
• Subjects: Biodiversity; Ecosystems; Electric power; Engineering Sciences; functional traits; fungal genomes; Fungi; Genotypes; intraspecific diversity; Plant diversity; Roots; Sampling designs; spatial scale; Species diversity; Tansley insight; fungal genomes; biodiversity; intraspecific diversity; spatial scale; functional traits
• ISSN: 0028-646X; 1469-8137
• DOI: 10.1111/nph.15010

Both genotypes and species of mycorrhizal fungi exhibit considerable variation in traits, and this variation can result in their diversity regulating ecosystem function. Yet, the nature of mycorrhizal fungal diversity–ecosystem function (MEF) relationships for both genotypes and species is currently poorly defined. New experiments should reflect the richness of genotypes and species in nature, but we still lack information about the extent to which fungal populations in particular are structured. Sampling designs should quantify the diversity of mycorrhizal fungal genotypes and species at three key broad spatial scales (root fragment, root system and interacting root systems) in order to inform manipulation experiments and to test how mycorrhizal fungal diversity both responds, and confers resilience to, environmental drivers.