Phytochemical diversity, endemism and their adaptations to abiotic and
biotic pressures in fine roots across a climatic gradient
Abstract
Phytochemicals are greatly ignored in trait-based ecology. Especially,
the adaptations of phytochemicals to abiotic and biotic pressures in the
rhizosphere are less understood. Here, we measured the metabolomics of
fine roots and their rhizosphere microbiome along a climatic gradient
(tropical, subtropical, and subalpine forests), to explore phytochemical
diversity patterns and phytochemical-microorganism interactions. We
found that high phytochemical diversity but low phytochemical endemism
in subalpine species favor coping with high abiotic pressures. High
phytochemical variation and phytochemical endemism in tropical species
favor greater species coexistence and adaptation to complex biotic
pressures. Moreover, there was evidence of widespread chemical niche
partitioning of closely related species in all regions. Our findings
support the Latitudinal Biotic Interaction Hypothesis, i.e., the
intensity of phytochemical-microorganism interactions decreases from
tropical to subalpine regions, which promotes greater multi-trophic
coexistence in the tropics than in higher latitude forests. Our study
provides novel insights into biotic interactions and species
coexistence.