Nitrogen-fixing symbiotic bacteria act as a global filter for plant establishment on islands

Island biogeography has classically focused on abiotic drivers of species distributions. However, recent work has highlighted the importance of mutualistic biotic interactions in structuring island floras. The limited occurrence of specialist pollinators and mycorrhizal fungi have been found to restrict plant colonization on oceanic islands. Another important mutualistic association occurs between nearly 15,000 plant species and nitrogen-fixing (N-fixing) bacteria. Here, we look for evidence that N-fixing bacteria limit establishment of plants that associate with them. Globally, we find that plants associating with N-fixing bacteria are disproportionately underrepresented on islands, with a 22% decline. Further, the probability of N-fixing plants occurring on islands decreases with island isolation and, where present, the proportion of N-fixing plant species decreases with distance for large, but not small islands. These findings suggest that N-fixing bacteria serve as a filter to plant establishment on islands, altering global plant biogeography, with implications for ecosystem development and introduction risks. Plants associated with nitrogen-fixing bacterial symbionts are disproportionately underrepresented on islands, suggesting that these bacteria might play a limiting role in island plant biogeography.

Automated summary

Island biogeography has traditionally focused on abiotic factors, but recent research has highlighted the importance of biotic interactions in shaping island flora. One important association occurs between plants and nitrogen-fixing bacteria, and it has been found that these bacteria limit plant establishment on islands. This has implications for global plant biogeography and ecosystem development.