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Background and aims <p>Temporal dynamics are key processes driving species succession and functional changes in ecosystems, making the identification of their critical thresholds essential for understanding ecosystem transitions. Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi form mutualistic symbioses with plants and exhibit clear successional signals over time. However, it remains unclear whether there are temporal thresholds in AM fungal community changes and how the underlying driving factors shift.</p> Methods <p>In this study, we investigated the temporal dynamics of AM fungal communities in the roots of three common plant species (<i>Cleistogenes squarrosa</i>, <i>Leymus chinensis</i>,&#xa0;and <i>Stipa grandis</i>) at five time points during the growing season in a temperate grassland in northern China.</p> Results <p>Our results identified distinct temporal thresholds in AM fungal community structure, and the tipping point varied significantly among plant species. Host plants exhibited stronger preferences for AM fungi in the late growing season. Furthermore, the key soil properties driving the AM fungal community structure shifted before and after the temporal thresholds. Notably, for&#xa0;<i>C. squarrosa</i>, the primary driver shifted from ammonium (NH₄⁺) to pH, while for&#xa0;<i>S. grandis</i>, it shifted from nitrate (NO₃⁻) to NH₄⁺ and mean daily temperature.</p> Conclusion <p>This study reveals temporal thresholds and their shifting drivers in the AM symbiosis, providing a critical theoretical basis for the management and conservation of grassland ecosystems under global change.</p>

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Thresholds and shifting drivers for the temporal dynamics of mycorrhizal symbiosis in a temperate grassland

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年5月26日

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  • Qiang Dong,
  • Xin Guo,
  • Keyu Chen,
  • Shijie Ren,
  • Yu Tang,
  • Xinling Dai,
  • Yaoming Li,
  • Jing Zhang,
  • Baoming Ji

摘要

Background and aims

Temporal dynamics are key processes driving species succession and functional changes in ecosystems, making the identification of their critical thresholds essential for understanding ecosystem transitions. Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi form mutualistic symbioses with plants and exhibit clear successional signals over time. However, it remains unclear whether there are temporal thresholds in AM fungal community changes and how the underlying driving factors shift.

Methods

In this study, we investigated the temporal dynamics of AM fungal communities in the roots of three common plant species (Cleistogenes squarrosa, Leymus chinensis, and Stipa grandis) at five time points during the growing season in a temperate grassland in northern China.

Results

Our results identified distinct temporal thresholds in AM fungal community structure, and the tipping point varied significantly among plant species. Host plants exhibited stronger preferences for AM fungi in the late growing season. Furthermore, the key soil properties driving the AM fungal community structure shifted before and after the temporal thresholds. Notably, for C. squarrosa, the primary driver shifted from ammonium (NH₄⁺) to pH, while for S. grandis, it shifted from nitrate (NO₃⁻) to NH₄⁺ and mean daily temperature.

Conclusion

This study reveals temporal thresholds and their shifting drivers in the AM symbiosis, providing a critical theoretical basis for the management and conservation of grassland ecosystems under global change.