Fungi-Leaf secondary metabolites drive habitat partitioning between epiphytic and endophytic microbiomes in tropical trees

For ten dominant tree species in the Xishuangbanna tropical monsoon rainforest, covering three life-history stages, we investigated both epiphytic microbial communities on leaf surfaces and endophytic communities inside leaves. We analyzed differences in their diversity, network structure, and community assembly processes. We further quantified the relative contributions of plant genetic, physical, and chemical traits, as well as environmental factors, to the shaping of these microbial communities.