| description |
The assembly of phylogenetically and ecologically diverse belowground fungal communities is one of the most complicated ecological processes in nature. In this study, we examine how habitat, plant host, and phylogenetically conserved traits shape the structure of belowground fungal communities in an oak-dominated temperate forest. We focus on mycorrhizal, plant pathogenic, endophytic, and soil fungi in diverse taxonomic clades. Pyrosequencing analysis of fungal DNA from 159 root-tip and 38 soil samples indicated that fungal communities included both habitat generalists and specialists. The presence of plant host-specific fungi suggested that the composition of plant communities could influence the structure of the fungal community. The community of fungi associated with roots, but not fungi from soil, showed significant phylogenetic clustering, suggesting that roots were "filtering" habitats, allowing colonization by a phylogenetically limited subset of fungi. These findings provide a basis for understanding how habitat specificity, host-plant specificity, and phylogenetic constraints can shape the structure of hyper-species-rich communities of belowground fungi. |