Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 3, 2026

Investigation of Plant Interactions Across Common Mycorrhizal Networks Using Rotated Cores
Published on: March 26, 2019
Links between plant and fungal communities across a deforestation chronosequence in the Amazon rainforest
Rebecca C Mueller1, Fabiana S Paula2, Babur S Mirza3
1Institute of Ecology and Evolution, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR, USA.
Abstract:
Understanding the interactions among microbial communities, plant communities and soil properties following deforestation could provide insights into the long-term effects of land-use change on ecosystem functions, and may help identify approaches that promote the recovery of degraded sites. We combined high-throughput sequencing of fungal rDNA and molecular barcoding of plant roots to estimate fungal and plant community composition in soil sampled across a chronosequence of deforestation. We found significant effects of land-use change on fungal community composition, which was more closely correlated to plant community composition than to changes in soil properties or geographic distance, providing evidence for strong links between above- and below-ground communities in tropical forests.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
The Roles of Bacteria and Fungi in Plant Nutrition
Epiphytes, Parasites, and Carnivores
Soil Microbial Ecology
Microbe-Plant Interactions
Ecological Succession
Ecological Disturbance

