Mycorrhizal fungi show regular community compositions in natural ecosystems

ISME J. 2018 Feb;12(2):380-385. doi: 10.1038/ismej.2017.169. Epub 2017 Oct 6.

Abstract

Dissimilarity overlap curve analysis has shown that 'universality' is a common feature in many complex microbial communities, suggesting that the same taxa interact in a similar manner when shared between communities. We present evidence that arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, common plant root symbionts, show universal community compositions in natural ecosystems and that this pattern is conserved even at larger spatial scales. However, universality was not detected in agricultural ecosystems potentially implying that agricultural symbiont communities are formed in a different manner.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Agriculture
  • Canada
  • China
  • Crops, Agricultural
  • DNA / analysis
  • Ecology
  • Ecosystem*
  • Europe
  • Genes, Fungal
  • Geography
  • Grassland
  • Least-Squares Analysis
  • Linear Models
  • Microbiota
  • Mycorrhizae / classification*
  • Mycorrhizae / physiology*
  • Plant Roots / microbiology*
  • Symbiosis

Substances

  • DNA