Since the earliest report by Frank (1885), in which he documented the benefit of
ectomycorrhizal fungi for their plant hosts, ecologists have been intrigued by the functional …

Ectomycorrhizal fungi exhibit high diversity even in small monoculture forests. Roughly 20 to
35 species typically occupy such sites. Explanations for this diversity can be based on …

Mycorrhizae are long-lived symbioses between fungi and the roots of higher plants. The
fungi extend the nutrient-absorbing surface area of the roots; produce extracellular enzymes …

A long‐term goal of community ecology is to identify spatial and temporal factors that
underlie observed community structures. Ultimately, ecologists seek to relate community …

Mycorrhizal fungi play a critical role in nutrient cycling and ecosystem function. They improve
plant growth and survival through a mutualistic relationship in which photosynthates are …

Introduction Knowledge of the factors that determine ectomycorrhizal fungal community
structure is essential in many areas of practical significance including conservation, habitat …

Mycorrhizal fungal diversity has been shown to influence both plant community structure and
production (van der Heijden et al. 1998; Horton et al. 1999). Similarly, plant communities …

Ectomycorrhizal fungal (EMF) communities are extremely species-rich in most forest
ecosystems (Horton and Bruns 2001). The number of EMF species can often reach more …

Belowground biological interactions that occur among plant roots, microorganisms and
animals are dynamic and substantially influence ecosystem processes. Among these …

Over the past decade the use of molecular techniques has provided new ways to study old
questions about how ectomycorrhizal fungi interact with each other and their environment. In …