A new study from Dartmouth’s Ecology, Evolution, Environment & Society Program has recently uncovered significant findings regarding climate and arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi. The study, spearheaded by postdoctoral fellow Smriti Pehim Limbu, focuses on climate’s role in shaping the characteristics of these fungi around the globe. This research was done in the Chaudhary Ecology Lab. It is the first global, trait-based, multi-biome meta-analysis of AM fungi. These latest discoveries are helping scientists understand just how important fungi are to plant health. Published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the study underscores their outsized influence on ecosystem processes.
The subsequent study looked at over 3,500 sites globally. It yielded the first ever comprehensive global map revealing the distribution of AM fungal spore traits across diverse environmental gradients. Approximately 70% of terrestrial plant species establish symbiotic associations with AM fungi. This work is foundational for answering one of biology’s biggest questions—how the majority of Earth’s biodiversity adapts to its environment.
Research Overview and Methodology
Limbu and her co-authors, Sidney Stürmer, Geoffrey Zahn, Carlos Aguilar-Trigueros, and Noah Rogers, recently took an in-depth look. For their part, Barbier et al. painstakingly sequenced AM fungal spore characteristics found in multiple biomes. Climatic models were used in tandem with historical field evidence collected by the research team. They estimated the influence of climatic factors on fungal attributes.
To do this, Limbu took an innovative and powerful approach by developing a global study site distribution map. This map is an important starting point for a more detailed analysis. The study found that AM fungi have varied fungal traits depending on the environment. This variation has serious consequences for ecosystem health and plant-fungi relationships.
“Our findings showed that spores that were bigger and darker in color were more common in warm, wet climates, but there was a trade-off between persistence and dispersal,” – Smriti Pehim Limbu
The study addressed how these traits are not merely incidental but are crucial for understanding the dynamics of ecosystems where these fungi thrive. Our climate is changing fast. This major shift would likely change how these microorganisms adapt and evolve, with cascading effects on plant health and productivity.
Implications for Ecosystem Health
This research is important beyond academic curiosity. The impacts will be felt in agriculture and conservation. AM fungi are crucial players to nutrient acquisition in plants, having far-reaching implications on food security and the stability of terrestrial ecosystems. The study underscores that as climate change progresses, shifts in microbial traits could profoundly affect how these fungi survive, spread, and interact with their plant hosts.
Predicting these movements is more important than ever as global temperatures rise and precipitation patterns become more variable. This study brings to light the importance of adaptive management approaches for agriculture and conservation that account for these microbial interactions.
“As climate change continues, we expect shifts in these microbial traits that influence how these fungi survive, spread, and interact with plants, which could have cascading effects across ecosystems, and affect restoration efforts and food production.” – Smriti Pehim Limbu
Trait-based approaches have a rich history in ecology, dating back to species’ explorations of the niche. As noted by Chaudhary from the Chaudhary Ecology Lab:
Historical Context and Future Directions
This study further carves that tradition by mapping out previously held traits. Along with documenting past changes, it forecasts what to expect in years to come, all based on climate impacts. These findings highlight the need for more studies that examine the roles AM fungi play in ecosystems as climatic conditions continue to change.
“Ecologists since before Darwin have been studying the geographic distribution of species’ traits.” – Chaudhary
Future studies will explore how targeted adaptations of AM fungi can further augment agricultural resilience and productivity. Additionally, they’ll explore approaches to repair damaged waterways, forests and habitats. As scientists work to further understand the specifics of these interactions, they’re underscoring the need for ongoing monitoring and research.
Future studies may focus on how specific adaptations among AM fungi can be leveraged to enhance agricultural resilience or restore degraded ecosystems. As scientists continue to unravel the complexities of these interactions, they emphasize the importance of continued monitoring and research.