Explaining the large-scale diversity of soil organisms that drive biogeochemical processes—
and their responses to environmental change—is critical. However, identifying consistent …

Key species groups that affect major ecological processes are vital components of
community diversity. Many such key groups are found in the soil, including the mycorrhizal …

Urbanization alters the physicochemical environment, introduces non-native species and
causes ecosystem characteristics to converge. It has been speculated that these alterations …

Ancient asexuals directly contradict the evolutionary theories that explain why organisms
should evolve a sexual life history,. The mutualistic, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi are thought …

AMONG the Eukaryota, the true fungi comprise four divisions (Chytridiomycota,
Zymogomycota, Ascomycota and Basidio-mycota) that constitute a natural group which is …

The functioning and stability of terrestrial ecosystems are determined by plant biodiversity
and species composition,,,,. However, the ecological mechanisms by which plant …

Mycorrhizae, the symbiotic associations of plant roots and fungal hyphae, are classic
examples of mutualisms. In these ecologically important associations, the fungi derive …

SIR-Grime et at. 1 argue that the presence of mycorrhizas leads to an increase in the plant
species diversity of laboratory microcosms. They grew species-rich mixtures of plants with …

Most investigations of floristic diversity have involved studies1–15 of natural vegetation.
Progress using these approaches has been limited because some potentially important …

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (order Glomales), which form mycorrhizal symbioses with two
out of three of all plant species, are believed to be obligate biotrophs that are wholly …