Mycorrhizal Types Regulate Tree Spatial Associations in Temperate Forests: Ectomycorrhizal Trees Might Favour Species Coexistence

Abstract

In temperate mixed forests, dominant ectomycorrhizal (EM) tree species usually coexist with diverse arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) understorey tree species. Here, we investigated the spatial associations between AM and EM trees in two > 20 ha temperate forest mega-plots to better understand the observed ‘EM-dominant versus AM-diverse’ coexistence. Overall, we found that positive spatial associations (e.g., facilitation) were mostly related to EM trees, while negative spatial associations (e.g., inhibition) were mainly related to AM trees. Because adult EM trees tended to facilitate surrounding AM and EM saplings and other EM adults in these two forests, facilitation hotspots that stabilize AM-EM tree coexistence should be centred around EM tree species rather than around AM tree species. Together, we propose a novel EM-stabilization mechanism, which emphasises how, despite some species-specific variation, EM tree species foster ‘EM-dominant versus AM-diverse’ coexistence in temperate mixed forests by facilitating other trees.