The roles of plant pathogens in old-growth forests

Old-growth forests are considered a benchmark for naturalness and models to which one compares managed forests, comparison leading debates around biodiversity its conservation, structure dynamics, polarizing conservationists forest practitioners. Plant pathogens frequently disregarded as components of biodiversity, the common perception referring this category organisms important biotic stressors. However, building several functional groups (necrotrophic biotrophic pathogens, endophytic sapro-parasitic species, generally on wood), in highly natural such old-growth establishing interaction networks with other hyperparasites, consumers, disease facilitators, indirect opportunistic species (such tree hollow dwellers), saprotrophs or mutualists. Being connected old trees (rare missing forests) endangered plants, become indicators biodiversity. The gradient going from saprotrophs, sapro-pathogens generalist/specialist characterizing ecosystems is linked at great extent wood bark, being nutrient cycling ecosystem level process. As long maintained within baseline mortality trees, play role control factors contribute directly indirectly current ecology progresses, integrative studies, new holistic approaches shaping modern bring focus rare, endemic plant populations, plants’ phenotypic niche global potential providers services (sources medicines) intricate ecological webs. comparisons between should be focused evenness (high versus low not particularly richness. Still, there responsible major disturbances worldwide, invasive, alien emerging threatening both forests.