The availability of global microbial diversity data, collected using standardized metabarcoding techniques, makes microorganisms promising models for investigating the role of regional and local factors in driving biodiversity. Here we modelled the global diversity of symbiotic arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi using currently available data on AM fungal molecular diversity (small subunit (SSU) ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene sequences) in field samples. To differentiate between regional and local effects, we estimated species pools (sets of potentially suitable taxa) for each site, which are expected to reflect regional processes. We then calculated community completeness, an index showing the fraction of the species pool present, which is expected to reflect local processes. We found significant spatial variation, globally in species pool size, as well as in local and dark diversity (absent members of the species pool). Species pool size was larger close to areas containing tropical grasslands during the last glacial maximum, which are possible centres of diversification. Community completeness was greater in regions of high wilderness (remoteness from human disturbance). Local diversity was correlated with wilderness and current connectivity to mountain grasslands. Applying the species pool concept to symbiotic fungi facilitated a better understanding of how biodiversity can be jointly shaped by large-scale historical processes and recent human disturbance.

Berlin Brandenburg Institute of Advanced Biodiversity Research D 14195 Berlin Germany

Department of Biodiversity Macroecology and Biogeography Georg August University Göttingen Büsgenweg 1 37077 Göttingen Germany

Department of Biology Sect Ecology and Evolution University of Copenhagen Universitetsparken 15 Building 3 DK 2100 Copenhagen Denmark

Department of Biology University of York Heslington York YO10 5DD UK

Department of Botany Faculty of Sciences University of South Bohemia Na Zlate Stoce 1 CZ 370 05 České Budějovice Czech Republic

Department of Botany Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences University of Tartu Lai 40 Tartu 51005 Estonia

Department of Ecology Environment and Plant Sciences Stockholm University 10691 Stockholm Sweden

Department of Ecosystem and Conservation Sciences University of Montana Missoula MT 59812 USA

Freie Universität Berlin Institute of Biology Altensteinstr 6 D 14195 Berlin Germany

Institute of Botany Czech Academy of Sciences Dukelská 135 CZ 379 82 Třeboň Czech Republic

MPG Ranch 1001 S Higgins Ave Missoula MT 59801 USA

Natural History Museum University of Tartu Vanemuise 46 Tartu 51014 Estonia

School of Biological Sciences Queen's University of Belfast 97 Lisburn Road Belfast BT9 7BL Northern Ireland

Citace poskytuje Crossref.org