The fungal collaboration gradient drives root trait distribution and ecosystem processes in a tropical montane forest

Dantas de Paula, Mateus; Reichert, Tatiana; Lugli, Laynara F.; McGale, Erica; Pierick, Kerstin; Darela-Filho, João Paulo; Langan, Liam; Homeier, Jürgen; Rammig, Anja; Hickler, Thomas

doi:https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-22-2707-2025

Articles | Volume 22, issue 12

https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-22-2707-2025

© Author(s) 2025. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-22-2707-2025

© Author(s) 2025. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

Articles | Volume 22, issue 12

Research article

|

17 Jun 2025

Research article |

| 17 Jun 2025

The fungal collaboration gradient drives root trait distribution and ecosystem processes in a tropical montane forest

Mateus Dantas de Paula, Tatiana Reichert, Laynara F. Lugli, Erica McGale, Kerstin Pierick, João Paulo Darela-Filho, Liam Langan, Jürgen Homeier, Anja Rammig, and Thomas Hickler

Data sets

Dantas_de_Paula_et_al_2024_Fungal_Collaboration_Gradient_Results_Figures_PlotScript M. Dantas de Paula et al. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.13772012

Water fluxes and element concentrations in throughfall in the microcatchment Q2 between 1998-2016 A. Velescu and W. Wilcke http://www.tropicalmountainforest.org/data_pre.do?citid=1861

ECSF Climate station best estimate Ver. 2 R. Rollenbeck et al. http://www.tropicalmountainforest.org/data_pre.do?citid=1415

Climate Station Data at Bombuscaro T. Peters and M. Richter http://www.tropicalmountainforest.org/data_pre.do?citid=501

Climate Station Data Cajanuma Paramo - daily estimate 199-2018 J. Bendix http://www.tropicalmountainforest.org/data_pre.do?citid=1858

Short summary

This study explores how plant roots with different forms and functions rely on fungal partnerships for nutrient uptake. This relationship was integrated into a vegetation model and was tested in a tropical forest in Ecuador. The model accurately predicted root traits and showed that without fungi, biomass decreased by up to 80 %. The findings highlight the critical role of fungi in ecosystem processes and suggest that root–fungal interactions should be considered in vegetation models.