A fine?scale spatial analysis of fungal communities on tropical tree bark unveils the epiphytic rhizosphere in orchids

Approximately 10% of vascular plants are epiphytes and, even though this has long been ignored in past research, able to interact with a variety fungi, including mycorrhizal taxa. However, the structure fungal communities on bark, as well their relationship epiphytic plants, is largely unknown. To fill gap, we conducted environmental metabarcoding ITS-2 region understand spatial bark tropical trees, focus orchid and tested influence root proximity. For all guilds, were more similar when spatially close (i.e. they displayed positive autocorrelation). They also showed distance decay similarity respect roots, meaning that composition increasingly differed, compared from roots. We first investigated guilds exhibited at very small scales. This was influenced by roots suggesting existence an rhizosphere. Finally, fungi aggregated around them, possibly result reciprocal between partners.