Abstract
The identity and relevance of the ectomycorrhizal (ECM) fungal partners of Eucalyptus globulus was investigated in NW Spain, to detect which symbionts mainly support its invasiveness. Root tips of E. globulus and of three common native plant species (Quercus robur, Pinus pinaster and Halimium lasianthum) were collected in eucalypt plantations, Q. robur forests, P. pinaster plantations and shrublands. Fungal taxonomical identity was ascertained by use of rDNA and direct sequencing. We studied diversity, composition and colonization rate of the ECM fungal communities of E. globulus to determine if fungal assemblages are host specific (i.e. similar in different habitats) or more dependent on the neighbourhood context. We also identified the type of associations formed (i.e. co-introductions, familiar or novel associations). Twenty-six ECM taxa were associated with E. globulus. Most of them engaged in novel associations with eucalypts, whereas only three fungal species were co-introduced Australian aliens. Eucalypt fungal richness, diversity and colonization rate differed between habitats, being higher in native oak forests, whereas in shrublands E. globulus showed the lowest colonization rate and diversity. The Australian fungus Descolea maculata dominated the eucalypt fungal assemblage and also spread to the native host plants, in all the habitats, posing the risk of further co-invasion.
Highlights
The movement of alien species around the world is causing major impacts on biodiversity, and forestry is one of the main causes of plant introductions[1,2]
Mutualist limitation may be avoided by reduced dependence, either inherent or evolved, in the novel range[10], by co-introductions, familiar mutualisms, or novel associations
Irrespective of habitat and site, we found a total of 26 fungal taxa associated with E. globulus, 38 taxa with Q. robur, 32 taxa were hosted by P. pinaster and 11 by H. lasianthum (Supplementary Table S2)
Summary
The movement of alien species around the world is causing major impacts on biodiversity, and forestry is one of the main causes of plant introductions[1,2]. Its successful establishment in the new area highly depends on the formation of biotic interactions with the local community[3,4,5] In this regard, the role of antagonists in determining the success of alien species has received the most attention in invasion biology[3], while the role of mutualisms has been less studied, and especially that of mycorrhizal symbioses[4]. In case of low host specificity in the plant-fungus interactions, these differences in availability may lead to between-habitat differences in the ECM fungal communities associated with the exotic plant species (context dependency) This situation may lead to differences in the probability of successful establishment and spread of non-native plants depending on the neighbourhood context (i.e. identity of nearby species)[12,13]. Despite the wide distribution of E. globulus, our knowledge about its ecology in the new areas of introduction is still poor, especially in regard to its interactions with the local communities, both above- and below-ground (but see for example, Bauhus et al.[21]; Calviño-Cancela and Neumann[22]; Calviño-Cancela and Rubido Bará[23]; Becerra et al.)[24]
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