Exotic mammals disperse exotic fungi that promote invasion by exotic trees

PLoS One. 2013 Jun 24;8(6):e66832. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0066832. Print 2013.

Abstract

Biological invasions are often complex phenomena because many factors influence their outcome. One key aspect is how non-natives interact with the local biota. Interaction with local species may be especially important for exotic species that require an obligatory mutualist, such as Pinaceae species that need ectomycorrhizal (EM) fungi. EM fungi and seeds of Pinaceae disperse independently, so they may use different vectors. We studied the role of exotic mammals as dispersal agents of EM fungi on Isla Victoria, Argentina, where many Pinaceae species have been introduced. Only a few of these tree species have become invasive, and they are found in high densities only near plantations, partly because these Pinaceae trees lack proper EM fungi when their seeds land far from plantations. Native mammals (a dwarf deer and rodents) are rare around plantations and do not appear to play a role in these invasions. With greenhouse experiments using animal feces as inoculum, plus observational and molecular studies, we found that wild boar and deer, both non-native, are dispersing EM fungi. Approximately 30% of the Pinaceae seedlings growing with feces of wild boar and 15% of the seedlings growing with deer feces were colonized by non-native EM fungi. Seedlings growing in control pots were not colonized by EM fungi. We found a low diversity of fungi colonizing the seedlings, with the hypogeous Rhizopogon as the most abundant genus. Wild boar, a recent introduction to the island, appear to be the main animal dispersing the fungi and may be playing a key role in facilitating the invasion of pine trees and even triggering their spread. These results show that interactions among non-natives help explain pine invasions in our study area.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Colony Count, Microbial
  • Feces / microbiology
  • Fungi / growth & development
  • Fungi / physiology*
  • Host-Pathogen Interactions
  • Introduced Species*
  • Mammals / microbiology*
  • Mice
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Pinus / microbiology
  • Plant Roots / microbiology
  • Seedlings / microbiology
  • Species Specificity
  • Trees / microbiology*

Associated data

  • GENBANK/KC179047
  • GENBANK/KC179048
  • GENBANK/KC179049
  • GENBANK/KC179050
  • GENBANK/KC179051
  • GENBANK/KC179052
  • GENBANK/KC179053

Grants and funding

This work was supported by funding from the National Science Foundation, awards #DEB 949175 and #DEB 948930. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.