Mycorrhizal dominance influences tree species richness and richness-biomass relationship in China’s forests

Mycorrhizal associations drive plant community diversity and ecosystem functions. Arbuscular mycorrhizas (AM) and ectomycorrhizas (EcM) are two widespread mycorrhizal types and are thought to differentially affect plant diversity and productivity by nutrient acquisition and plant-soil feedback. However, it remains unclear how the mixture of two mycorrhizal types influences tree diversity, forest biomass and their relationship at large spatial scales. Here, we explored these issues using data from 1247 plots (600 m2 for each) across China’s natural forests located mostly in temperate and subtropical regions. Both AM-dominated and EcM-dominated forests show relatively lower tree species richness and stand biomass, whereas forests with the mixture of mycorrhizal strategies sustain more tree species and higher biomass. Interestingly, the positive effect of tree diversity on biomass is stronger in forests with low (≤50%) than high AM tree proportion (>50%), reflecting a shift from the com..., , , # Mycorrhizal dominance influences tree species richness and richness-biomass relationship in China’s forests

[https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.x69p8cztv](https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.x69p8cztv)

## Description of the data and file structure

### Files and variables

#### File: Data\_of\_biomass\_\_tree\_species\_richness\_and\_mycorrhizal\_dominance\_in\_China\_s\_forests.xlsx

**Description:** Data of biomass, tree species richness and mycorrhizal dominance in China's forests

##### Variables

Abbreviation|Variable|Unit|Legend

plot ID | Plot id | A plot with an area of 600 m2 (20m * 30m)

site_Province| Sampling site in province-level division in China

Biomass | Forest biomass| Mg/ha|Total tree biomass (DBH≥3cm)

Richness | Tree species richness|Species richness of trees (DBH≥3cm) in each plot (600m2)

AM |Arbuscular mycorrhizal proportion|%|Proportion of arbuscular mycorrhizal trees

EcM|ectomycorrhizal proportion|%|Proportion of ectomycorrhizal trees

SOC|%|Soil organic carbon cont...