Salix rhizosphere Metagenome. rhizosphere metagenome

• Rhizosphere fungi are key contributors to ecosystem functioning, however the factors which determine community assembly are still relatively poorly understood. • This study simultaneously quantified the independent roles of geographical distance, environmental heterogeneity and time in determining rhizosphere community composition at the local scale within a short rotation coppice (SRC) willow plantation • Molecular analysis of the rhizosphere fungal community revealed for the first time a strong but seasonally dependent effect of geographical distance between rhizosphere fungal communities on composition. Whilst these distance effects were most prevalent in October, soil mineral nitrogen availability had a large impact on structure of the communities during the summer. • Given the seasonally dependent influences of distance and the environment for shaping rhizosphere fungal communities, there is clearly need for a temporal component to sampling strategies in future investigations of microbial biogeography.