Site-specific nutrient data reveal the importance of soils in driving the mycorrhizal make-up of woody vegetation worldwide

Xiaobin Hua; Christopher H. Lusk; Ian A. Dickie; Stephen Adu-Bredu; Kathryn J. Allen; Viviana Araus; Laurent Augusto; Pavel Barsukov; David Bauman; Félix Brédoire; David F.R.P. Burslem; James W. Dalling; Leen Depauw; Kyle G. Dexter; Thomas Drouet; John L. Godlee; Roberto Godoy; Rodrigo A. Gutiérrez; Jonathan Ilunga Muledi; Arnaud Jacobs; Robert Kooyman; Claudio Latorre; Jesús López Angulo; Sébastien Macé; Sybryn L. Maes; Francisco Maiato Pedro Gonçalves; Ben Hur Marimon Junior; Manuel Nicolas; Reuben Nilus; Michael O'Brien; Imma Oliveras Menor; Frida I. Piper; Jennifer Read; Glen Reynolds; Alfredo Saldaña; Beatriz Schwantes Marimon; Kris Verheyen; Mark Westoby; Benjamin Wigley; Ian J. Wright

doi:10.1111/geb.13936

Site-specific nutrient data reveal the importance of soils in driving the mycorrhizal make-up of woody vegetation worldwide

Xiaobin Hua
, Christopher H. Lusk
, Ian A. Dickie
, Stephen Adu-Bredu
, Kathryn J. Allen
, Viviana Araus
, Laurent Augusto
, Pavel Barsukov
, David Bauman
, Félix Brédoire
, David F.R.P. Burslem
, James W. Dalling
, Leen Depauw
, Kyle G. Dexter
, Thomas Drouet
, John L. Godlee
, Roberto Godoy
, Rodrigo A. Gutiérrez
, Jonathan Ilunga Muledi
, Arnaud Jacobs

Robert Kooyman, Claudio Latorre, Jesús López Angulo, Sébastien Macé, Sybryn L. Maes, Francisco Maiato Pedro Gonçalves, Ben Hur Marimon Junior, Manuel Nicolas, Reuben Nilus, Michael O'Brien, Imma Oliveras Menor, Frida I. Piper, Jennifer Read, Glen Reynolds, Alfredo Saldaña, Beatriz Schwantes Marimon, Kris Verheyen, Mark Westoby, Benjamin Wigley, Ian J. Wright

Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment

University of Waikato
University of Canterbury
CSIR-Forestry Research Institute of Ghana
University of Tasmania
University of Melbourne
Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile
INRAE
Institute of Chemistry and Phytotechnology
Kyrgyz National Agrarian University named after K. I. Skryabin
Institute of Soil Sciences and Agrochmistry
University of Oxford
AMAP
University of Wyoming
University of Aberdeen
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Ghent University
University of Edinburgh
Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh
Université libre de Bruxelles
Universidad Austral de Chile
Université de Lubumbashi
Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences
Macquarie University
Universidad Rey Juan Carlos
Office National des Forêts
Universidade Mandume ya Ndemufayo
Universidade do Estado de Mato Grosso
Sabah Forestry Department
CSIC - Estación Experimental de Zonas Áridas (EEZA)
Univ Montpellier
Universidad de Talca
Monash University
South East Asia Rainforest Research Partnership
Universidad de Concepción
University of Bayreuth
Nelson Mandela University

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

3 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Aim: Arbuscular mycorrhizas (AM) and ectomycorrhizas (ECM) have different impacts on nutrient cycling, carbon storage, community dynamics and enhancement of photosynthesis by rising CO2. Recent global analyses have concluded that patterns of AM/ECM dominance in forests worldwide are shaped by climate, with soil nutrients contributing negligible additional explanatory power. However, their reliance on nutrient data from GIS surfaces masks important local influences of parent material, topography and soil age on soil nutrient status. We asked if use of site-specific nutrient data reveals a more important role for nutrients. Time Period: Present day. Location: Global dataset comprising 703 sites, encompassing forests, savanna/woodlands, shrublands and deserts on all continents except Antarctica. Taxa Studied: Arborescent plants, including angiosperms, gymnosperms and tree ferns. Methods: Generalised Additive Models for Location, Scale and Shape (GAMLSS) to determine the effects of climate variables, soil nitrogen and soil phosphorus on the proportional representation of ECM and of non-mycorrhizal species (NM) in woody vegetation. Results: GAMLSS showed a strong negative relationship of ECM representation with mean annual temperature (MAT), and a strong negative relationship with soil total nitrogen. NM representation was highest on dry sites and phosphorus-poor sites. Reanalysis showed that GIS-derived soil nutrient data had less explanatory power than site-specific nutrient data, and resulted in poorer model fits. Conclusions: Our results support the long-held belief that soil nutrients as well as climate influence the relative fitness of different mycorrhizal syndromes worldwide, and demonstrate the value of using site-specific nutrient data. Soil nutrients should be considered when predicting the impact of climate change on the mycorrhizal composition of vegetation and resulting shifts in ecosystem processes.

Original language	English
Article number	e13936
Number of pages	13
Journal	Global Ecology and Biogeography
Volume	34
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1111/geb.13936
Publication status	Published - Jan 2025

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 13 Climate Action

Keywords

aridity
ectomycorrhiza
non-mycorrhizal plants
soil nitrogen
soil phosphorus
temperature

Access to Document

10.1111/geb.13936

Cite this

Hua, X., Lusk, C. H., Dickie, I. A., Adu-Bredu, S., Allen, K. J., Araus, V., Augusto, L., Barsukov, P., Bauman, D., Brédoire, F., Burslem, D. F. R. P., Dalling, J. W., Depauw, L., Dexter, K. G., Drouet, T., Godlee, J. L., Godoy, R., Gutiérrez, R. A., Muledi, J. I., ... Wright, I. J. (2025). Site-specific nutrient data reveal the importance of soils in driving the mycorrhizal make-up of woody vegetation worldwide. Global Ecology and Biogeography, 34(1), Article e13936. https://doi.org/10.1111/geb.13936

@article{1acf9a1cae5e450eb13322dfe53d8346,

title = "Site-specific nutrient data reveal the importance of soils in driving the mycorrhizal make-up of woody vegetation worldwide",

abstract = "Aim: Arbuscular mycorrhizas (AM) and ectomycorrhizas (ECM) have different impacts on nutrient cycling, carbon storage, community dynamics and enhancement of photosynthesis by rising CO2. Recent global analyses have concluded that patterns of AM/ECM dominance in forests worldwide are shaped by climate, with soil nutrients contributing negligible additional explanatory power. However, their reliance on nutrient data from GIS surfaces masks important local influences of parent material, topography and soil age on soil nutrient status. We asked if use of site-specific nutrient data reveals a more important role for nutrients. Time Period: Present day. Location: Global dataset comprising 703 sites, encompassing forests, savanna/woodlands, shrublands and deserts on all continents except Antarctica. Taxa Studied: Arborescent plants, including angiosperms, gymnosperms and tree ferns. Methods: Generalised Additive Models for Location, Scale and Shape (GAMLSS) to determine the effects of climate variables, soil nitrogen and soil phosphorus on the proportional representation of ECM and of non-mycorrhizal species (NM) in woody vegetation. Results: GAMLSS showed a strong negative relationship of ECM representation with mean annual temperature (MAT), and a strong negative relationship with soil total nitrogen. NM representation was highest on dry sites and phosphorus-poor sites. Reanalysis showed that GIS-derived soil nutrient data had less explanatory power than site-specific nutrient data, and resulted in poorer model fits. Conclusions: Our results support the long-held belief that soil nutrients as well as climate influence the relative fitness of different mycorrhizal syndromes worldwide, and demonstrate the value of using site-specific nutrient data. Soil nutrients should be considered when predicting the impact of climate change on the mycorrhizal composition of vegetation and resulting shifts in ecosystem processes.",

keywords = "aridity, ectomycorrhiza, non-mycorrhizal plants, soil nitrogen, soil phosphorus, temperature",

author = "Xiaobin Hua and Lusk, \{Christopher H.\} and Dickie, \{Ian A.\} and Stephen Adu-Bredu and Allen, \{Kathryn J.\} and Viviana Araus and Laurent Augusto and Pavel Barsukov and David Bauman and F{\'e}lix Br{\'e}doire and Burslem, \{David F.R.P.\} and Dalling, \{James W.\} and Leen Depauw and Dexter, \{Kyle G.\} and Thomas Drouet and Godlee, \{John L.\} and Roberto Godoy and Guti{\'e}rrez, \{Rodrigo A.\} and Muledi, \{Jonathan Ilunga\} and Arnaud Jacobs and Robert Kooyman and Claudio Latorre and Angulo, \{Jes{\'u}s L{\'o}pez\} and S{\'e}bastien Mac{\'e} and Maes, \{Sybryn L.\} and Gon{\c c}alves, \{Francisco Maiato Pedro\} and Junior, \{Ben Hur Marimon\} and Manuel Nicolas and Reuben Nilus and Michael O'Brien and Menor, \{Imma Oliveras\} and Piper, \{Frida I.\} and Jennifer Read and Glen Reynolds and Alfredo Salda{\~n}a and Marimon, \{Beatriz Schwantes\} and Kris Verheyen and Mark Westoby and Benjamin Wigley and Wright, \{Ian J.\}",

year = "2025",

month = jan,

doi = "10.1111/geb.13936",

language = "English",

volume = "34",

journal = "Global Ecology and Biogeography",

issn = "1466-822X",

publisher = "Wiley-Blackwell Publishing Ltd",

number = "1",

}

Hua, X, Lusk, CH, Dickie, IA, Adu-Bredu, S, Allen, KJ, Araus, V, Augusto, L, Barsukov, P, Bauman, D, Brédoire, F, Burslem, DFRP, Dalling, JW, Depauw, L, Dexter, KG, Drouet, T, Godlee, JL, Godoy, R, Gutiérrez, RA, Muledi, JI, Jacobs, A, Kooyman, R, Latorre, C, Angulo, JL, Macé, S, Maes, SL, Gonçalves, FMP, Junior, BHM, Nicolas, M, Nilus, R, O'Brien, M, Menor, IO, Piper, FI, Read, J, Reynolds, G, Saldaña, A, Marimon, BS, Verheyen, K, Westoby, M, Wigley, B & Wright, IJ 2025, 'Site-specific nutrient data reveal the importance of soils in driving the mycorrhizal make-up of woody vegetation worldwide', Global Ecology and Biogeography, vol. 34, no. 1, e13936. https://doi.org/10.1111/geb.13936

TY - JOUR

T1 - Site-specific nutrient data reveal the importance of soils in driving the mycorrhizal make-up of woody vegetation worldwide

AU - Hua, Xiaobin

AU - Lusk, Christopher H.

AU - Dickie, Ian A.

AU - Adu-Bredu, Stephen

AU - Allen, Kathryn J.

AU - Araus, Viviana

AU - Augusto, Laurent

AU - Barsukov, Pavel

AU - Bauman, David

AU - Brédoire, Félix

AU - Burslem, David F.R.P.

AU - Dalling, James W.

AU - Depauw, Leen

AU - Dexter, Kyle G.

AU - Drouet, Thomas

AU - Godlee, John L.

AU - Godoy, Roberto

AU - Gutiérrez, Rodrigo A.

AU - Muledi, Jonathan Ilunga

AU - Jacobs, Arnaud

AU - Kooyman, Robert

AU - Latorre, Claudio

AU - Angulo, Jesús López

AU - Macé, Sébastien

AU - Maes, Sybryn L.

AU - Gonçalves, Francisco Maiato Pedro

AU - Junior, Ben Hur Marimon

AU - Nicolas, Manuel

AU - Nilus, Reuben

AU - O'Brien, Michael

AU - Menor, Imma Oliveras

AU - Piper, Frida I.

AU - Read, Jennifer

AU - Reynolds, Glen

AU - Saldaña, Alfredo

AU - Marimon, Beatriz Schwantes

AU - Verheyen, Kris

AU - Westoby, Mark

AU - Wigley, Benjamin

AU - Wright, Ian J.

PY - 2025/1

Y1 - 2025/1

N2 - Aim: Arbuscular mycorrhizas (AM) and ectomycorrhizas (ECM) have different impacts on nutrient cycling, carbon storage, community dynamics and enhancement of photosynthesis by rising CO2. Recent global analyses have concluded that patterns of AM/ECM dominance in forests worldwide are shaped by climate, with soil nutrients contributing negligible additional explanatory power. However, their reliance on nutrient data from GIS surfaces masks important local influences of parent material, topography and soil age on soil nutrient status. We asked if use of site-specific nutrient data reveals a more important role for nutrients. Time Period: Present day. Location: Global dataset comprising 703 sites, encompassing forests, savanna/woodlands, shrublands and deserts on all continents except Antarctica. Taxa Studied: Arborescent plants, including angiosperms, gymnosperms and tree ferns. Methods: Generalised Additive Models for Location, Scale and Shape (GAMLSS) to determine the effects of climate variables, soil nitrogen and soil phosphorus on the proportional representation of ECM and of non-mycorrhizal species (NM) in woody vegetation. Results: GAMLSS showed a strong negative relationship of ECM representation with mean annual temperature (MAT), and a strong negative relationship with soil total nitrogen. NM representation was highest on dry sites and phosphorus-poor sites. Reanalysis showed that GIS-derived soil nutrient data had less explanatory power than site-specific nutrient data, and resulted in poorer model fits. Conclusions: Our results support the long-held belief that soil nutrients as well as climate influence the relative fitness of different mycorrhizal syndromes worldwide, and demonstrate the value of using site-specific nutrient data. Soil nutrients should be considered when predicting the impact of climate change on the mycorrhizal composition of vegetation and resulting shifts in ecosystem processes.

AB - Aim: Arbuscular mycorrhizas (AM) and ectomycorrhizas (ECM) have different impacts on nutrient cycling, carbon storage, community dynamics and enhancement of photosynthesis by rising CO2. Recent global analyses have concluded that patterns of AM/ECM dominance in forests worldwide are shaped by climate, with soil nutrients contributing negligible additional explanatory power. However, their reliance on nutrient data from GIS surfaces masks important local influences of parent material, topography and soil age on soil nutrient status. We asked if use of site-specific nutrient data reveals a more important role for nutrients. Time Period: Present day. Location: Global dataset comprising 703 sites, encompassing forests, savanna/woodlands, shrublands and deserts on all continents except Antarctica. Taxa Studied: Arborescent plants, including angiosperms, gymnosperms and tree ferns. Methods: Generalised Additive Models for Location, Scale and Shape (GAMLSS) to determine the effects of climate variables, soil nitrogen and soil phosphorus on the proportional representation of ECM and of non-mycorrhizal species (NM) in woody vegetation. Results: GAMLSS showed a strong negative relationship of ECM representation with mean annual temperature (MAT), and a strong negative relationship with soil total nitrogen. NM representation was highest on dry sites and phosphorus-poor sites. Reanalysis showed that GIS-derived soil nutrient data had less explanatory power than site-specific nutrient data, and resulted in poorer model fits. Conclusions: Our results support the long-held belief that soil nutrients as well as climate influence the relative fitness of different mycorrhizal syndromes worldwide, and demonstrate the value of using site-specific nutrient data. Soil nutrients should be considered when predicting the impact of climate change on the mycorrhizal composition of vegetation and resulting shifts in ecosystem processes.

KW - aridity

KW - ectomycorrhiza

KW - non-mycorrhizal plants

KW - soil nitrogen

KW - soil phosphorus

KW - temperature

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/85212066382

UR - https://go.openathens.net/redirector/westernsydney.edu.au?url=https://doi.org/10.1111/geb.13936

U2 - 10.1111/geb.13936

DO - 10.1111/geb.13936

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:85212066382

SN - 1466-822X

VL - 34

JO - Global Ecology and Biogeography

JF - Global Ecology and Biogeography

IS - 1

M1 - e13936

ER -

Site-specific nutrient data reveal the importance of soils in driving the mycorrhizal make-up of woody vegetation worldwide

Abstract

UN SDGs

Keywords

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