Tree diversity and mycorrhizal type co-determine multitrophic ecosystem functions

Abstract

The relationship between biodiversity and multitrophic ecosystem functions (BEF) remains poorly studied in forests. There have been inconsistent reports regarding the significance of tree diversity effects on ecosystem functions, which may be better understood by considering critical biotic interactions of trees. This study investigates the role of tree-mycorrhizal associations that may shape forest BEF relationships across multiple ecosystem functions. We used a field experiment (MyDiv) that comprises 10 deciduous tree species associated with either arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) or ectomycorrhizal (EcM) fungi to create gradients in species richness (1, 2, 4 species) and different mycorrhizal communities (only AM-species [AM fungi associated tree species] or EcM-species [EcM fungi associated tree species], or a combination of both). We investigated the effects of tree species richness and mycorrhizal types on crucial multitrophic ecosystem functions (foliage damage, predation [using artificial caterpillars] and soil fauna feeding activity [~0–10 cm]) and assessed how these effects were mediated by stand characteristics. Overall, we found that tree species richness and mycorrhizal types strongly affected multitrophic ecosystem functions. Compared to monocultures, 4-species mixtures with both mycorrhizal types experienced significantly lower foliage damage. The mixtures of EcM-species supported significantly higher predation (i.e. a greater proportion of artificial caterpillars being attacked), and this effect strengthened with tree species richness. The effects of tree species richness on soil fauna feeding activity were negative across all mycorrhizal types in the lower soil layer. Moreover, we showed that tree diversity effects were mediated by above-ground tree biomass, vertical structural complexity and leaf quality, with the dominating mechanisms largely depending on the mycorrhizal types. Synthesis. Tree species richness affected multitrophic ecosystem functioning by (1) directly decreasing the proportion of foliage damage in the communities with both mycorrhizal types, where AM-species benefited from mixing with EcM-species, and (2) increasing predation rates via changes in the vertical structural complexity in mixtures of EcM-species. Our results highlight the importance of considering mycorrhizal types for managing well-functioning mixed-species forests and contribute to broadening the mechanistic understanding of the context-dependent BEF relationships in forests.