Ectomycorrhizal fungi: A major player in early succession

Abstract

Ectomycorrhizal (ECM) fungi are a key organism group enabling and enhancing the process of open land colonization by ECM-dependent trees and shrubs. Through their functional traits, interactions with both abiotic and biotic environment, and their own successional dynamics, they significantly affect woody vegetation succession coupled with soil and ecosystem development. In this chapter, we review the role of ECM fungi in the processes of early primary and secondary succession, including non-anthropogenic natural systems, like glacier forefronts, volcanic deserts, and sand dunes, as well as major sites disturbed by intensive human activity, such as mine spoils, fire-affected sites, clear-cuts and timber harvesting areas, and post-agricultural lands. Successional traits of ECM fungal community reflecting their life histories and species composition, dispersal, spatial and temporal structure, host preferences, and sensitivity to environmental filters underpin key ecosystem services provided by ECM fungi in the processes of forest development, management, and restoration. While the rapidly increasing influence of climate change, environmental damage, species invasions, and biodiversity reduction become obvious, ECM fungi and their successional traits must be considered in afforestation and carbon sequestration polices, in sustainable forest management, as well as in biodiversity conservation and rehabilitation practices.