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The root microlandscape of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi
Cendrine Mony1, Nathan Vannier2, Françoise Burel1
1UMR 6553 ECOBIO, Université de Rennes, Avenue du Général Leclerc, 35043, Rennes Cedex, France.
Abstract:
Understanding the drivers of assemblages of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) is essential to leverage the benefits of AMF for plant growth and health. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi are heterogeneously distributed in space even at small scale. We review the role of plant distribution in driving AMF assemblages (the passenger hypothesis), using a transposition of the conceptual framework of landscape ecology. Because rooting systems correspond to habitat patches with limited carrying capacity that differ in quality due to host-preference effects, we suggest considering plant communities as mosaics of AMF microhabitats. We review how predictions from landscape ecology apply to plant community effects on AMF, and the existing evidence that tests these predictions. Although many studies have been conducted on the effect of plant compositional heterogeneity on AMF assemblages, they mostly focused on the effect of plant richness, while only a few investigated the effect of configurational heterogeneity, plant connectivity or plant community temporal dynamics. We propose key predictions and future prospects to fill these gaps. Considering plant communities as landscapes extends the passenger hypothesis by including a spatially explicit dimension and its associated ecological processes and may help understand and manipulate AMF assemblages at small spatial scales.
Insights
Understanding arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) distribution is key for plant health. Plant communities act as landscapes, influencing AMF by creating diverse microhabitats, which is crucial for harnessing AMF benefits.
Area of Science:
- Ecology
- Mycology
- Plant Science
Background:
- Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are crucial for plant growth and health.
- AMF exhibit heterogeneous spatial distribution, even at small scales.
- Understanding AMF drivers is essential for agricultural and ecological applications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the role of plant distribution in shaping AMF assemblages.
- To apply landscape ecology concepts to plant communities as AMF microhabitats.
- To identify knowledge gaps and propose future research directions.
Main Methods:
- Literature review synthesizing studies on plant community effects on AMF.
- Transposition of landscape ecology frameworks to plant-AMF interactions.
- Analysis of existing evidence for plant compositional and configurational heterogeneity impacts.
Main Results:
- Plant communities can be viewed as mosaics of AMF microhabitats due to root systems and host preferences.
- Most research has focused on plant richness, with limited investigation into configurational heterogeneity, connectivity, and temporal dynamics.
- Landscape ecology principles offer a valuable framework for understanding AMF spatial distribution.
Conclusions:
- Viewing plant communities as landscapes enhances the passenger hypothesis by incorporating spatial dynamics.
- This approach can improve our understanding and manipulation of AMF assemblages at small spatial scales.
- Future research should address configurational heterogeneity, plant connectivity, and temporal dynamics in plant-AMF interactions.
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