The widely observed positive relationship between plant diversity and ecosystem functioning is thought to be substantially driven by complementary resource use of plant species. Recent work suggests that biotic interactions among plants and between plants and soil organisms drive key aspects of resource use complementarity. Here, we provide a conceptual framework for integrating positive biotic interactions across guilds of organisms, more specifically between plants and mycorrhizal types, to explain resource use complementarity in plants and its consequences for plant competition. Our overarching hypothesis is that ecosystem functioning increases when more plant species associate with functionally dissimilar mycorrhizal fungi because differing mycorrhizal types will increase coverage of habitat space for and reduce competition among plants. We introduce a recently established field experiment (MyDiv) that uses different pools of tree species that associate with either arbuscular or ectomycorrhizal fungi to create orthogonal experimental gradients in tree species richness and mycorrhizal associations and present initial results. Finally, we discuss options for future mechanistic studies on resource use complementarity within MyDiv. We show how mycorrhizal types and biotic interactions in MyDiv can be used in the future to test novel questions regarding the mechanisms underlying biodiversity\uffe2\uff80\uff93ecosystem function relationships.
", "keywords": ["0106 biological sciences", "0301 basic medicine", "2. Zero hunger", "biodiversity\u2013ecosystem functioning", "experimental design", "Ecology", "arbuscular mycorrhiza", "15. Life on land", "01 natural sciences", "ectomycorrhiza", "Article", "biotic interactions", "03 medical and health sciences", "biodiversity effects", "QH540-549.5"]}, "links": [{"href": "https://esajournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1002/ecs2.2226"}, {"href": "https://doi.org/10.1002/ecs2.2226"}, {"rel": "related", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/Ecosphere", "name": "related record", "description": "related record", "type": "application/json"}, {"rel": "self", "type": "application/geo+json", "title": "10.1002/ecs2.2226", "name": "item", "description": "10.1002/ecs2.2226", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/10.1002/ecs2.2226"}, {"rel": "collection", "type": "application/json", "title": "Collection", "name": "collection", "description": "Collection", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main"}], "time": {"date": "2018-05-01T00:00:00Z"}}, {"id": "10.3389/fpls.2020.00889", "type": "Feature", "geometry": null, "properties": {"updated": "2026-05-29T16:20:56Z", "type": "Journal Article", "created": "2020-06-23", "title": "An Optimized in situ Quantification Method of Leaf H2O2 Unveils Interaction Dynamics of Pathogenic and Beneficial Bacteria in Wheat", "description": "Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) functions as an important signaling molecule in plants during biotic interactions. However, the extent to which H2O2 accumulates during these interactions and its implications in the development of disease symptoms is unclear. In this work, we provide a step-by-step optimized protocol for in situ quantification of relative H2O2 concentrations in wheat leaves infected with the pathogenic bacterium Pseudomonas syringae pv. atrofaciens (Psa), either alone or in the presence of the beneficial bacterium Herbaspirillum seropedicae (RAM10). This protocol involved the use of 3-3'diaminobenzidine (DAB) staining method combined with image processing to conduct deconvolution and downstream analysis of the digitalized leaf image. The application of a linear regression model allowed to relate the intensity of the pixels resulting from DAB staining with a given concentration of H2O2. Decreasing H2O2 accumulation patterns were detected at increasing distances from the site of pathogen infection, and H2O2 concentrations were different depending on the bacterial combinations tested. Notably, Psa-challenged plants in presence of RAM10 accumulated less H2O2 in the leaf and showed reduced necrotic symptoms, pointing to a potential role of RAM10 in reducing pathogen-triggered H2O2 levels in young wheat plants.", "keywords": ["biotic interactions", "0301 basic medicine", "0303 health sciences", "03 medical and health sciences", "color deconvolution", "hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)", "Plant culture", "Plant Science", "3-3\u2032diaminobenzidine (DAB)", "image processing", "SB1-1110"]}, "links": [{"href": "https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2020.00889"}, {"rel": "related", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/Frontiers%20in%20Plant%20Science", "name": "related record", "description": "related record", "type": "application/json"}, {"rel": "self", "type": "application/geo+json", "title": "10.3389/fpls.2020.00889", "name": "item", "description": "10.3389/fpls.2020.00889", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/10.3389/fpls.2020.00889"}, {"rel": "collection", "type": "application/json", "title": "Collection", "name": "collection", "description": "Collection", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main"}], "time": {"date": "2020-06-23T00:00:00Z"}}, {"id": "10.1111/1365-2745.12053", "type": "Feature", "geometry": null, "properties": {"updated": "2026-05-29T16:18:42Z", "type": "Journal Article", "created": "2013-05-10", "title": "Strong Congruence In Tree And Fern Community Turnover In Response To Soils And Climate In Central Panama", "description": "Summary
Plant species turnover in central Panamanian forests has been principally attributed to the effects of dispersal limitation and a strong Caribbean to Pacific gradient in rainfall seasonality. Despite marked geological heterogeneity, the role of soil variation has not been rigorously examined.
We modelled the compositional turnover of trees and ferns in the Panama Canal watershed as a function of soil chemistry, climate and geographical separation, using generalized dissimilarity models (GDMs).
Predictability in both plant groups was strong, with 74% of turnover explained in trees and 49% in ferns. Major trends in the two plant groups were strikingly similar. The independent effects of soils, and of climate for trees, were sizeable, but those of geographical distance were minor. In both plant groups, distance and climatic effects on species turnover covaried strongly.
Including floristic dissimilarity of the other taxon as a predictor increased explained deviance to 81% in trees and 59% in ferns. Controlling for differences in plant density among plots reduced deviance explained by climate and distance, while soil effects remained strong. Limiting the analyses to soils of volcanic origin increased deviance explained by climate, soils and distance, but their effects covaried strongly. Independent soil effects on tree turnover were reduced, but their effects on fern turnover remained pronounced.
Dry season length was the most important climatic predictor for both taxa, and P and pH were the most important soil predictors. Particularly, rapid species turnover was associated with the driest end of the seasonality gradient, linked to declining individual densities and species richness, and with the low end of the phosphorus gradient.
Synthesis. While changes in rainfall and seasonality undoubtedly limit plant distributions in this region, soil effects are at least as important, and interactions between the two are sizeable. This is likely to hold elsewhere in the Caribbean region, where mosaics of marine and volcanic soils combined with pronounced rainfall gradients are common. Strong congruence between our focal taxa suggests that our results can be extrapolated to other plant groups, particularly as trees and ferns are distantly related and represent different life\uffe2\uff80\uff90forms.
", "keywords": ["0106 biological sciences", "biotic interactions", " determinants of plant community diversity and structure", " edaphic variation", " environmental control", " matrix regression", " precipitation", " Pteridophyta", " seed and spore dispersal", " tropical forests", " turnover rates", "15. Life on land", "01 natural sciences"]}, "links": [{"href": "https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2745.12053"}, {"rel": "related", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/Journal%20of%20Ecology", "name": "related record", "description": "related record", "type": "application/json"}, {"rel": "self", "type": "application/geo+json", "title": "10.1111/1365-2745.12053", "name": "item", "description": "10.1111/1365-2745.12053", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/10.1111/1365-2745.12053"}, {"rel": "collection", "type": "application/json", "title": "Collection", "name": "collection", "description": "Collection", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main"}], "time": {"date": "2013-01-14T00:00:00Z"}}, {"id": "10.1111/nph.16768", "type": "Feature", "geometry": null, "properties": {"updated": "2026-05-29T16:19:14Z", "type": "Journal Article", "created": "2020-07-03", "title": "Phylogenetic signals and predictability in plant\u2013soil feedbacks", "description": "SummaryThere is strong evidence for a phylogenetic signal in the degree to which species share co\uffe2\uff80\uff90evolved biotic partners and in the outcomes of biotic interactions. This implies there should be a phylogenetic signal in the outcome of feedbacks between plants and the soil microbiota they cultivate. However, attempts to identify a phylogenetic signal in plant\uffe2\uff80\uff93soil feedbacks have produced mixed results.
Here we clarify how phylogenetic signals could arise in plant\uffe2\uff80\uff93soil feedbacks and use a recent compilation of data from feedback experiments to identify: whether there is a phylogenetic signal in the outcome of plant\uffe2\uff80\uff93soil feedbacks; and whether any signal arises through directional or divergent changes in feedback outcomes with evolutionary time.
We find strong evidence for a divergent phylogenetic signal in feedback outcomes. Distantly related plant species show more divergent responses to each other\uffe2\uff80\uff99s soil microbiota compared with closely related plant species. The pattern of divergence implies occasional co\uffe2\uff80\uff90evolutionary shifts in how plants interact with soil microbiota, with strongly contrasting feedback responses among some plant lineages.
Our results highlight that it is difficult to predict feedback outcomes from phylogeny alone, other than to say that more closely related species tend to have more similar responses.
There is strong evidence for a phylogenetic signal in the degree to which species share co\uffe2\uff80\uff90evolved biotic partners and in the outcomes of biotic interactions. This implies there should be a phylogenetic signal in the outcome of feedbacks between plants and the soil microbiota they cultivate. However, attempts to identify a phylogenetic signal in plant\uffe2\uff80\uff93soil feedbacks have produced mixed results.
Here we clarify how phylogenetic signals could arise in plant\uffe2\uff80\uff93soil feedbacks and use a recent compilation of data from feedback experiments to identify: whether there is a phylogenetic signal in the outcome of plant\uffe2\uff80\uff93soil feedbacks; and whether any signal arises through directional or divergent changes in feedback outcomes with evolutionary time.
We find strong evidence for a divergent phylogenetic signal in feedback outcomes. Distantly related plant species show more divergent responses to each other\uffe2\uff80\uff99s soil microbiota compared with closely related plant species. The pattern of divergence implies occasional co\uffe2\uff80\uff90evolutionary shifts in how plants interact with soil microbiota, with strongly contrasting feedback responses among some plant lineages.
Our results highlight that it is difficult to predict feedback outcomes from phylogeny alone, other than to say that more closely related species tend to have more similar responses.