Saprotrophic and ectomycorrhizal fungi exhibit contrasting richness patterns along elevational gradients in cool-temperate montane forests

Abstract

Increasing evidence suggests that elevational gradients of soil fungal richness are highly variable, but few studies have examined how diversity components of each guild contribute to overall fungal diversity. Here, we aimed to disentangle the relationships between total, saprotrophic, and ectomycorrhizal fungal richness, and environmental factors across elevational gradients in cool-temperate montane forests. We observed that total and saprotrophic richness decreased but ectomycorrhizal richness increased with increase in elevation. Elevational range size and nestedness analyses illustrated that saprotrophic and ectomycorrhizal source communities were located at lower and higher elevations, respectively. The observed total and saprotrophic richness were directly influenced by soil properties and indirectly influenced by climate and plant communities. Ectomycorrhizal fungal richness was affected by climate and the dominance of ectomycorrhizal trees. We highlight that two directional source–sink dynamics lead to opposite elevational patterns between saprotrophic and ectomycorrhizal fungal richness, shaping the variation in elevational richness gradients. • Saprotrophic fungal richness decreased with increase in elevation. • Ectomycorrhizal fungal richness increased with increase in elevation. • Soil properties and plant traits affected saprotrophic fungal richness. • Climate and ectomycorrhizal trees affected ectomycorrhizal fungal richness. • Two directional source–sink dynamics explain the richness patterns of soil fungi.