Fungal-beetle mutualisms go way back, but just because these interactions are ancient, doesn’t mean humans know what these interactions actually behold. A new publication reveals that the species of fungus (Leptographium abietinum) provides its beetle counterpart with not just one, but three fitness-enhancing benefits.
Read moreThe influence of human deposited nitrogen on plants and their fungal mutualist
Beneath the forest floor, N deposition is changing plant-fungal nutrient dynamics.
Activities like crop fertilization, and the combustion of fossil fuels is allowing massive amounts of nitrogen to be deposited to ecosystems around the world. A main response is the seemingly simple shift towards less functioning mycorrhizae. This actually has a pronounced impact on the entire ecosystem.
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