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Host plant richness explains diversity of ectomycorrhizal fungi: Response to the comment of Tedersoo et al . (2014)
Author(s) -
Gao Cheng,
Shi NanNan,
Liu YueXing,
Zheng Yong,
Ding Qiong,
Mi XiangCheng,
Ma KePing,
Wubet Tesfaye,
Buscot François,
Guo LiangDong
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
molecular ecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.619
H-Index - 225
eISSN - 1365-294X
pISSN - 0962-1083
DOI - 10.1111/mec.12659
Subject(s) - species richness , biology , biodiversity , ecology , ecosystem , temperate climate , species diversity , plant diversity
Exploring the relationships between the biodiversity of groups of interacting organisms yields insight into ecosystem stability and function (Hooper et al . [Hooper D, 2000]; Wardle [Wardle DA, 2006]). We demonstrated positive relationships between host plant richness and ectomycorrhizal ( EM ) fungal diversity both in a field study in subtropical China (Gutianshan) and in a meta‐analysis of temperate and tropical studies (Gao et al . [Gao C, 2013]). However, based on re‐evaluation of our data sets, Tedersoo et al . ([Tedersoo L, 2014]) argue that the observed positive correlation between EM fungal richness and EM plant richness at Gutianshan and also in our metastudies was based mainly from (i) a sampling design with inconsistent species pool and (ii) poor data compilation for the meta‐analysis. Accordingly, we checked our data sets and repeated the analysis performed by Tedersoo et al . ([Tedersoo L, 2014]). In contrast to Tedersoo et al . ([Tedersoo L, 2014]), our re‐analysis still confirms a positive effect of plant richness on EM fungal diversity in Gutianshan, temperate and tropical ecosystems, respectively.