Generalism in the interaction of Tulasnellaceae mycobionts with orchids characterizes a biodiversity hotspot in the tropical Andes of Southern Ecuador |
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Authors: | Paulo Herrera Ingrid Kottke M. Carmen Molina Marcos Méndez Juan Pablo Suárez |
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Affiliation: | 1. Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Técnica Particular de Loja, San Cayetano Alto S/n C.P, 11 01 608, Loja, Ecuador;2. Plant Evolutionary Ecology, Institute of Evolution and Ecology, Eberhard-Karls-University Tübingen, Auf der Morgenstelle 1, 72076 Tübingen, Germany;3. Área de Biodiversidad y Conservación, Departamento de Biología, Geología, Física y Química Inorgánica, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, C/ Tulipán S/n., E-28933 Móstoles, Madrid, Spain |
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Abstract: | Biotic interactions play an important role in the assembly and stability of communities. All orchids depend on mycobionts for early establishment, but whether individual orchid species depend on a specific or broad spectrum of mycobionts is still a matter of debate. Tulasnellaceae (Basidiomycota) is the richest and most widespread mycobiont worldwide. We assessed Tulasnellaceae richness in epiphytic and terrestrial orchids in different habitats, and evaluated the degree of generalism in orchid-Tulasnellaceae interactions and the robustness of this mutualistic system to the extinction of mycobiont partners. We sampled 114 orchid individuals including all common and rare species in 56 plots of 1 m2 in 3 habitats: pristine forest, regenerating forest and a landslide site in a tropical montane rainforest in Southern Ecuador. We found 52 orchid and 29 Tulasnellaceae species. The composition of Tulasnellaceae OTUs was moderately to highly similar across habitats and between orchid growth forms. A significantly nested network architecture indicated the existence of a core of generalist Tulasnellaceae OTUs interacting with both rare and common orchids. Terrestrial and epiphytic orchids showed significant differences in robustness to the extinction of their Tulasnellaceae mycobionts. Thus, generalist mycobionts may be relevant for the preservation of hyperdiverse orchid communities in the tropics. |
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Keywords: | Bipartite network Orchidaceae Orchid mycorrhiza Tropical montane rain forest |
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