Impacts of Early- and Late-seral Mycorrhizae during Restoration in Seasonal Tropical Forest, Mexico

background

This study examines the degree to which arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are associated with early vs. late successional forests in Quintana Roo, Mexico. It considers how such fungi aid seedling growth of six native early-, mid- or late-successional tree species. The researchers hypothesize that the application of mycorrizae associated with a tree species' associated successional sere will better promote that species' seedling growth and that associated AMF are therefore key for forest restoration success in degraded or disturbed areas.

Research Goals & Methods

Seedlings of the six tree species included in the study were propagated under greenhouse conditions using soil from a recently disturbed area (with early-successional AMF) and mature forest (with late-successional AMF). Seedlings were transplanted to respective sites whereupon growth parameters and fungal colonization/association were monitored over a three-year period.

Conclusions & Takeaways

The results suggest that the reestablishment of early-successional mycorrhizae is generally beneficial to the regeneration of most tree species, while late-successional mycorrhizae had no notable positive effect on seedling success.