Image_2_Arbuscular mycorrhizal and ectomycorrhizal plants together shape seedling diversity in a subtropical forest.TIFF

IntroductionBurgeoning mycorrhizal research has focused on identifying the various diverse mycorrhizal strategies of forest communities. Mounting evidence suggests that mycorrhizae play important roles in regulating forest community structure and composition. However, research into the manifestation of this influence in the seedling stage is lacking, especially in small-scale plots.MethodsOur research utilized structural equation models parameterized using data from a subtropical monsoon broad-leaved evergreen forest situated in Yunnan Province, China.ResultsWe noted that seedlings included plants that utilized both arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) and ectomycorrhizal (EM) fungi. More seedling plots with the relatively higher species diversity were the product of the mixed mycorrhizal strategy, meaning the coexistence of AM and EM seedlings in a small-scale plot rather than the dominance of one type of strategies. These mixed communities were primarily found on slopes and mountain ridges. The abundance of AM or EM trees indirectly affected seedling diversity by influencing the abundance of different mycorrhizal seedlings. In this case, the diversity of the mixed mycorrhizal community was also restricted by the level of leaf thickness in the community, followed by abiotic factors such as elevation, convexity, soil pH and soil available phosphorus.DiscussionThe effect of leaf thickness on mycorrhizal seedling abundance reflected the importance of water conditions in shaping seedling communities. The effect of convexity on seedling diversity also reflected the limitation of seedling communities by the distribution of humidity and heat conditions during topographic change. The results suggested that it is crucial to preserve seedling diversity via the mixed mycorrhizal strategy of communities in the subtropical forest.</p

Image_1_Arbuscular mycorrhizal and ectomycorrhizal plants together shape seedling diversity in a subtropical forest.TIFF

IntroductionBurgeoning mycorrhizal research has focused on identifying the various diverse mycorrhizal strategies of forest communities. Mounting evidence suggests that mycorrhizae play important roles in regulating forest community structure and composition. However, research into the manifestation of this influence in the seedling stage is lacking, especially in small-scale plots.MethodsOur research utilized structural equation models parameterized using data from a subtropical monsoon broad-leaved evergreen forest situated in Yunnan Province, China.ResultsWe noted that seedlings included plants that utilized both arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) and ectomycorrhizal (EM) fungi. More seedling plots with the relatively higher species diversity were the product of the mixed mycorrhizal strategy, meaning the coexistence of AM and EM seedlings in a small-scale plot rather than the dominance of one type of strategies. These mixed communities were primarily found on slopes and mountain ridges. The abundance of AM or EM trees indirectly affected seedling diversity by influencing the abundance of different mycorrhizal seedlings. In this case, the diversity of the mixed mycorrhizal community was also restricted by the level of leaf thickness in the community, followed by abiotic factors such as elevation, convexity, soil pH and soil available phosphorus.DiscussionThe effect of leaf thickness on mycorrhizal seedling abundance reflected the importance of water conditions in shaping seedling communities. The effect of convexity on seedling diversity also reflected the limitation of seedling communities by the distribution of humidity and heat conditions during topographic change. The results suggested that it is crucial to preserve seedling diversity via the mixed mycorrhizal strategy of communities in the subtropical forest.</p

Data_Sheet_1_Arbuscular mycorrhizal and ectomycorrhizal plants together shape seedling diversity in a subtropical forest.ZIP

IntroductionBurgeoning mycorrhizal research has focused on identifying the various diverse mycorrhizal strategies of forest communities. Mounting evidence suggests that mycorrhizae play important roles in regulating forest community structure and composition. However, research into the manifestation of this influence in the seedling stage is lacking, especially in small-scale plots.MethodsOur research utilized structural equation models parameterized using data from a subtropical monsoon broad-leaved evergreen forest situated in Yunnan Province, China.ResultsWe noted that seedlings included plants that utilized both arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) and ectomycorrhizal (EM) fungi. More seedling plots with the relatively higher species diversity were the product of the mixed mycorrhizal strategy, meaning the coexistence of AM and EM seedlings in a small-scale plot rather than the dominance of one type of strategies. These mixed communities were primarily found on slopes and mountain ridges. The abundance of AM or EM trees indirectly affected seedling diversity by influencing the abundance of different mycorrhizal seedlings. In this case, the diversity of the mixed mycorrhizal community was also restricted by the level of leaf thickness in the community, followed by abiotic factors such as elevation, convexity, soil pH and soil available phosphorus.DiscussionThe effect of leaf thickness on mycorrhizal seedling abundance reflected the importance of water conditions in shaping seedling communities. The effect of convexity on seedling diversity also reflected the limitation of seedling communities by the distribution of humidity and heat conditions during topographic change. The results suggested that it is crucial to preserve seedling diversity via the mixed mycorrhizal strategy of communities in the subtropical forest.</p

Direct, indirect and total standardized effects on AGB based on structural equation models.

<p>Direct, indirect and total standardized effects on AGB based on structural equation models.</p

Summary of the general linear models (GLMs) for the relationships between the endogenous variables and predictor variables, each variable separately analyzed.

<p>Summary of the general linear models (GLMs) for the relationships between the endogenous variables and predictor variables, each variable separately analyzed.</p

Structural equation models linking aboveground biomass and species richness in the primary <i>Pinus kesiya</i> forest.

<p>(a) Effects of species richness, soil nutrient regime and stand age on aboveground biomass. (b) Effects of species richness, soil nutrient regime, stand age and climate moisture index on aboveground biomass. (c) and (d) The model with climate moisture index as the linking mechanism. The coefficients are standardized prediction coefficients indicate each path. Solid lines represent significant paths (<i>P</i><0.05) and dash lines indicate non-significant paths (<i>P</i>≥0.05).</p

The distribution of 112 plots inventoried in the <i>Pinus kesiya</i> primary forest by using ArcGIS 9.3(ESRI,Redlands,CA,USA;http://www.esri.com).

<p>The distribution of 112 plots inventoried in the <i>Pinus kesiya</i> primary forest by using ArcGIS 9.3(ESRI,Redlands,CA,USA;<a href="http://www.esri.com/" target="_blank">http://www.esri.com</a>).</p

Relationship between species richness and aboveground biomass in a primary <i>Pinus kesiya</i> forest.

<p>The red solid line is from multiple OLS regression by adding the cubic term. Gray shaded areas show 95% confidence interval of the fit.</p

Data_Sheet_2_Functional traits and phylogeny jointly regulate the effects of environmental filtering and dispersal limitation on species spatial distribution.csv

IntroductionRevealing the spatial distribution pattern and formation mechanism of species in a community can provide important clues for community renewal, succession, and diversity maintenance mechanisms.MethodsIn this study, we employed spatial point process modeling to identify and quantify the processes contributing to the spatial distribution of species. Simultaneously, we explored the relationship between functional traits and species spatial distribution characteristics in conjunction with phylogenetic studies.ResultsThe results revealed that the LGCP model effectively described all species, indicating that the spatial pattern of species may be influenced by a combination of environmental filtering and dispersal limitation. Disparities in species spatial distribution were elucidated by characterizing functional traits, such as body size and resource conservation. Incorporating phylogenetic information enhanced the predictive capacity of functional traits in explaining species spatial distribution.DiscussionThis study underscores the significance of the joint effects of environmental filtering and dispersal limitation in generating species spatial distribution patterns. Integrating spatial point process models with considerations of functional traits and phylogeny proves to be an effective approach for comprehending the mechanisms governing species combinations.</p

Biomass allometric equations of each component of <i>Pinus kesiya</i> and other broadleaf species.

<p>Biomass allometric equations of each component of <i>Pinus kesiya</i> and other broadleaf species.</p