Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi diversity and distribution in tropical low flooding forest in Mexico

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are obligate symbionts that establish a mycorrhizal interaction with nearly 80% of terrestrial vascular plants. However, their diversity in tropical low flooding forest (TLFF) has not been characterized, and their distribution patterns in natural environments are not fully clear. Our objective was to determine the diversity and distribution of AMF in the TLFF of Yucatan, Mexico. We selected four sites of TLFF where the basal area of trees, herbaceous plant cover and richness and abundance of trees, herbaceous vegetation and AMF were determined. In addition, we determined the quantity of available phosphorus, cation exchange capacity, percentage of organic matter and pH in the soil at these sites. We found significant differences between sites in terms of tree basal area, herbaceous vegetation diversity and in all of the soil variables. We identified 11 species of AMF, and the greatest diversity was found in the site with the least observable anthropogenic disturbance. The abundance of AMF was positively related to the basal area and abundance of the arboreal vegetation and negatively related to the chemical soil properties measured. Our results indicate that the distribution of AMF in TLFF is related to the characteristics of vegetation, chemical parameters of the soil and identity of the AMF. This study sheds additional information to our understanding of the factors involved in AMF distribution in natural flooding environments.