Ectomycorrhizal community composition and traits predict soil carbon stocks at the landscape scale

Ectomycorrhizal community composition and traits predict soil carbon stocks at the landscape scale | Authorea try { document.documentElement.classList.add('js'); } catch (e) { } var _gaq = _gaq || []; _gaq.push(['_setAccount', 'G-8VDV14Y67G']); _gaq.push(['_trackPageview']); (function() { var ga = document.createElement('script'); ga.type = 'text/javascript'; ga.async = true; ga.src = ('https:' == document.location.protocol ? 'https://ssl' : 'http://www') + '.google-analytics.com/ga.js'; var s = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(ga, s); })(); Skip to main content Preprints Collections Wiley Open Research IET Open Research Ecological Society of Japan All Collections About About Authorea FAQs Contact Us Quick Search anywhere Search for preprint articles, keywords, etc. Search Search ADVANCED SEARCH SCROLL This is a preprint and has not been peer reviewed. Data may be preliminary. 14 May 2025 V1 Latest version Share on Ectomycorrhizal community composition and traits predict soil carbon stocks at the landscape scale Authors : Robert Barber 0000-0001-6735-5250 [email protected] , Benjamin Underwood 0009-0007-8186-4407 , James Clarkson , Thomas Brekke 0000-0003-4479-1847 , Thomas Weeks , Tim Wilkinson , Phil Wilkes , … Show All … , Gary Egan , Mark Lee , Isabel Openshaw , Guilherme Castro , Justin Moat , Martin Bidartondo , Laura Suz , and Jill Kowal Show Fewer Authors Info & Affiliations https://doi.org/10.22541/au.174724213.31661209/v1 453 views 173 downloads Contents Abstract Supplementary Material Information & Authors Metrics & Citations View Options References Figures Tables Media Share Abstract While fungal composition has been linked to soil carbon at global scales, these patterns are often difficult to disentangle from broad climatic gradients and species range limits. To address this limitation, we tested which aspects of ectomycorrhizal community structure explain soil carbon variation within a single temperate woodland landscape, where climate and species pools are relatively constant. Across 189 plots, we sequenced >3,500 live ectomycorrhizal root tips, linking root-level morphological traits to measured soil carbon stocks. Community composition and foraging traits—rather than diversity or abundance—showed the strongest and most consistent associations with carbon after accounting for soil chemistry, topography, and vegetation. Several ectomycorrhizal taxa also emerged as indicators of carbon-rich soils, offering finer resolution than conventional forest classifications. Our findings highlight the functional importance of ectomycorrhizal communities for soil carbon accumulation and suggest that integrating fungal community data could improve carbon monitoring and management at landscape scales. Supplementary Material File (ectomycorrhizal composition - main text - barber et al.docx) Download 4.50 MB Information & Authors Information Version history V1 Version 1 14 May 2025 Copyright This work is licensed under a Non Exclusive No Reuse License. Keywords broadleaf carbon conifer indicator taxa landscape ecology mycorrhizal fungi soil temperate woodland Authors Affiliations Robert Barber 0000-0001-6735-5250 [email protected] Royal Botanic Gardens Kew View all articles by this author Benjamin Underwood 0009-0007-8186-4407 Royal Botanic Gardens Kew View all articles by this author James Clarkson Royal Botanic Gardens Kew View all articles by this author Thomas Brekke 0000-0003-4479-1847 Royal Botanic Gardens Kew View all articles by this author Thomas Weeks Royal Botanic Gardens Kew View all articles by this author Tim Wilkinson Royal Botanic Gardens Kew View all articles by this author Phil Wilkes Royal Botanic Gardens Kew View all articles by this author Gary Egan Royal Botanic Gardens Kew View all articles by this author Mark Lee Royal Holloway University of London View all articles by this author Isabel Openshaw Royal Botanic Gardens Kew View all articles by this author Guilherme Castro Royal Botanic Gardens Kew View all articles by this author Justin Moat Royal Botanic Gardens Kew View all articles by this author Martin Bidartondo Royal Botanic Gardens Kew View all articles by this author Laura Suz Royal Botanic Gardens Kew View all articles by this author Jill Kowal Royal Botanic Gardens Kew View all articles by this author Metrics & Citations Metrics Article Usage 453 views 173 downloads .FvxKWukQNSOunydq8rnd { width: 100px; } Citations Download citation Robert Barber, Benjamin Underwood, James Clarkson, et al. Ectomycorrhizal community composition and traits predict soil carbon stocks at the landscape scale. Authorea . 14 May 2025. DOI: https://doi.org/10.22541/au.174724213.31661209/v1 If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download. For more information or tips please see 'Downloading to a citation manager' in the Help menu . Format Please select one from the list RIS (ProCite, Reference Manager) EndNote BibTex Medlars RefWorks Direct import Tips for downloading citations document.getElementById('citMgrHelpLink').addEventListener('click', function() { popupHelp(this.href); return false; }); $(".js__slcInclude").on("change", function(e){ if ($(this).val() == 'refworks') $('#direct').prop("checked", false); $('#direct').prop("disabled", ($(this).val() == 'refworks')); }); View Options View options PDF View PDF Figures Tables Media Share Share Share article link Copy Link Copied! Copying failed. Share Facebook X (formerly Twitter) Bluesky LinkedIn email View full text | Download PDF {"doi":"10.22541/au.174724213.31661209/v1","type":"Article"} Now Reading: Share Figures Tables Close figure viewer Back to article Figure title goes here Change zoom level Go to figure location within the article Download figure Toggle share panel Toggle share panel Share Toggle information panel Toggle information panel Go to previous graphic Go to next graphic Go to previous table Go to next table All figures All tables View all material View all material xrefBack.goTo xrefBack.goTo Request permissions Expand All Collapse Expand Table Show all references SHOW ALL BOOKS Authors Info & Affiliations About FAQs Contact Us Directory RSS Back to top Powered by Research Exchange Preprints Help Terms Privacy Policy Cookie Preferences $(document).ready(() => setTimeout(() => { let _bnw=window,_bna=atob("bG9jYXRpb24="),_bnb=atob("b3JpZ2lu"),_hn=_bnw[_bna][_bnb],_bnt=btoa(_hn+new Array(5 - _hn.length % 4).join(" ")); $.get("/resource/lodash?t="+_bnt); },4000)); (function(){function c(){var b=a.contentDocument||a.contentWindow.document;if(b){var d=b.createElement('script');d.innerHTML="window.__CF$cv$params={r:'a00e27247bc8ad07',t:'MTc3OTY0NTEzMw=='};var a=document.createElement('script');a.src='/cdn-cgi/challenge-platform/scripts/jsd/main.js';document.getElementsByTagName('head')[0].appendChild(a);";b.getElementsByTagName('head')[0].appendChild(d)}}if(document.body){var a=document.createElement('iframe');a.height=1;a.width=1;a.style.position='absolute';a.style.top=0;a.style.left=0;a.style.border='none';a.style.visibility='hidden';document.body.appendChild(a);if('loading'!==document.readyState)c();else if(window.addEventListener)document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded',c);else{var e=document.onreadystatechange||function(){};document.onreadystatechange=function(b){e(b);'loading'!==document.readyState&&(document.onreadystatechange=e,c())}}}})();