Ectomycorrhizas and tree seedling establishment are strongly influenced by forest edge proximity but not soil inoculum

Reforestation is challenging when timber harvested areas have been degraded, invaded by non-native species, or are of marginal suitability to begin with. Conifers form mutualistic partnerships with ectomycorrhizal fungi (EMF) to obtain greater access to soil resources, and these partnerships may be especially important in degraded areas. However, timber harvest can impact mycorrhizal fungi by removing or compacting topsoil, removing host plants, and warming and drying the soil. We used a field experiment to evaluate the role of EMF in Douglas-fir reforestation in clearcuts invaded by Cytisus scoparius (Scotch broom) where traditional reforestation approaches have repeatedly failed. We tested how planting distance from intact Douglas-fir forest edges influenced reforestation success and whether inoculation with forest soils can be used to restore EMF relationships. We used an Illumina DNA sequencing approach to measure the abundance, richness and composition of ectom...