Links between plant and fungal communities across a deforestation chronosequence in the Amazon rainforest.

TitleLinks between plant and fungal communities across a deforestation chronosequence in the Amazon rainforest.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2014
AuthorsMueller RC, Paula FS, Mirza BS, Rodrigues JLM, Nüsslein K, Bohannan BJM
JournalISME J
Volume8
Issue7
Pagination1548-50
Date Published2014 Jul
ISSN1751-7370
KeywordsBrazil, Conservation of Natural Resources, DNA Barcoding, Taxonomic, DNA, Fungal, DNA, Ribosomal, Ecosystem, Fungi, Phylogeny, Plant Roots, Soil Microbiology, Trees, Tropical Climate
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.

DOI10.1038/ismej.2013.253
Alternate JournalISME J
PubMed ID24451208
PubMed Central IDPMC4069395