Journal
ECOLOGY LETTERS
Volume 6, Issue 5, Pages 388-391Publisher
WILEY
DOI: 10.1046/j.1461-0248.2003.00444.x
Keywords
arbuscular mycorrhizas; dominance hierarchies; mycorrhizal dependence; plant diversity
Categories
Ask authors/readers for more resources
It is widely recognized that arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) influence plant community structure. Several studies in the past few years have focused on the effect of AMF on plant diversity, showing contradictory results. On the basis of studies carried out in grasslands, it has been proposed that these results may not be in conflict but rather depend on mycorrhizal dependence of dominant and subordinate species in the plant community. Here, we propose a simple conceptual model to explain the effect of AMF on plant diversity and dominance hierarchy. Our model suggests that the effect of AMF on plant diversity can be explained mainly by mycorrhizal dependence of subordinates. It also gives predictions for a wider range of community types, and helps in identifying the systems in which empirical data are most critically needed.
Authors
I am an author on this paper
Click your name to claim this paper and add it to your profile.
Reviews
Recommended
No Data Available