Department of Forestry and Natural Resources, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, 47907, USA.
Department of Forestry and Environmental Resources, North Carolina State University, Research Triangle Park, NC, 27709, USA.
Ecol Lett. 2018 Feb;21(2):217-224. doi: 10.1111/ele.12884. Epub 2017 Nov 30.
Forest mycorrhizal type mediates nutrient dynamics, which in turn can influence forest community structure and processes. Using forest inventory data, we explored how dominant forest tree mycorrhizal type affects understory plant invasions with consideration of forest structure and soil properties. We found that arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) dominant forests, which are characterised by thin forest floors and low soil C : N ratio, were invaded to a greater extent by non-native invasive species than ectomycorrhizal (ECM) dominant forests. Understory native species cover and richness had no strong associations with AM tree dominance. We also found no difference in the mycorrhizal type composition of understory invaders between AM and ECM dominant forests. Our results indicate that dominant forest tree mycorrhizal type is closely linked with understory invasions. The increased invader abundance in AM dominant forests can further facilitate nutrient cycling, leading to the alteration of ecosystem structure and functions.
森林菌根类型介导养分动态，而养分动态反过来又会影响森林群落结构和过程。本研究利用森林清查数据，探讨了主要林分树木菌根类型如何在考虑森林结构和土壤特性的情况下影响林下植物入侵。我们发现，与外生菌根（ECM）为主的森林相比，丛枝菌根（AM）为主的森林，林下植被的非本地入侵物种的入侵程度更高，其特点是森林地表层较薄，土壤 C:N 比值较低。林下本地物种的盖度和丰富度与 AM 树种的优势度没有很强的关联。我们还发现，AM 和 ECM 优势森林中，林下入侵物种的菌根类型组成没有差异。我们的研究结果表明，主要林分树木菌根类型与林下入侵密切相关。AM 优势森林中入侵物种的丰度增加，可进一步促进养分循环，导致生态系统结构和功能的改变。
