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Roadside disturbance promotes arbuscular mycorrhizal communities in mountain regions worldwide
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  • Jan Clavel,
  • Jonas Lembrechts,
  • Jonathan Lenoir,
  • Sylvia Haider,
  • Keith McDougall,
  • Martin Nuñez,
  • Jake Alexander,
  • Agustina Barros,
  • Ann Milbau,
  • Tim Seipel,
  • Anibal Pauchard,
  • Eduardo Fuentes-Lillo,
  • Amanda Ratier Backes,
  • Pervaiz Dar,
  • zafar reshi,
  • Alla Aleksanyan,
  • Shengwei Zong,
  • J. R. Arevalo,
  • Valeria Aschero,
  • Erik Verbruggen,
  • Ivan Nijs
Jan Clavel
University of Antwerp
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Jonas Lembrechts
University of Antwerp

Corresponding Author:lembrechtsjonas@gmail.com

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Jonathan Lenoir
Université de Picardie Jules Verne
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Sylvia Haider
Martin Luther University Halle Wittenberg
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Keith McDougall
La Trobe University
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Martin Nuñez
University of Houston
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Jake Alexander
Universite de Lausanne
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Agustina Barros
CONICET Mendoza
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Ann Milbau
Climate Impacts Research Centre (CIRC)
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Tim Seipel
Montana State University
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Anibal Pauchard
Universidad de Concepcion
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Eduardo Fuentes-Lillo
University of Concepción
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Amanda Ratier Backes
Martin-Luther-Universitat Halle-Wittenberg
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Pervaiz Dar
University of Kashmir
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zafar reshi
University of Kashmir
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Alla Aleksanyan
Institute of Botany National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Armenia
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Shengwei Zong
Northeast Normal University
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J. R. Arevalo
Universidad de La Laguna
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Valeria Aschero
CONICET Mendoza
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Erik Verbruggen
University of Antwerp
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Ivan Nijs
University of Antwerp
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Abstract

Aim: We aimed to assess the impact at the global level of physical anthropogenic disturbances on the dominant mycorrhizal types in ecosystems and how this mechanism can potentially lead to lasting plant community changes. Location: Globally distributed study regions Time Period: 2007-2018 Taxa studied: Plants and mycorrhizal fungi Methods: We used a database of coordinated plant community surveys following mountain roads from 894 plots in 11 mountain regions across the globe in combination with a database of mycorrhizal-plant associations in order to estimate the relative abundance of mycorrhizal types in natural and disturbed environments. Results: Our findings show that roadside disturbance promotes the cover of plants associated with arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi. This effect is especially strong in colder mountain environments and in mountain regions where plant communities are dominated by ectomycorrhizal (EcM) or ericoid-mycorrhizal (ErM) associations. Furthermore, non-native plant species, which we confirmed to be mostly AM plants, are more successful in environments dominated by AM associations. Main Conclusions: These biogeographical patterns suggest that changes in mycorrhizal types are a crucial factor in the worldwide impact of anthropogenic disturbances on mountain ecosystems by promoting AM-dominated systems and potentially weakening biotic resistance against non-native species invasion. Restoration efforts in mountain ecosystems will have to contend with changes in the fundamental make-up of EcM- and ErM plant communities induced by roadside disturbance.
10 Aug 2023Submitted to Ecography
12 Aug 2023Submission Checks Completed
12 Aug 2023Assigned to Editor
12 Aug 2023Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
19 Aug 2023Reviewer(s) Assigned
26 Oct 2023Editorial Decision: Revise Major
31 Jan 20241st Revision Received
01 Feb 2024Submission Checks Completed
01 Feb 2024Assigned to Editor
01 Feb 2024Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
24 Feb 20242nd Revision Received