The Predictive Power of Ecological Niche Modeling for Global Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungal Biogeography

Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi are globally distributed, obligate, belowground symbionts that associate with up to 80% of all plant species (Smith and Read 2008; Kivlin et al. 2011; Öpik et al. 2013; Davison et al. 2015; Soudzilovskaia et al. 2015a). Typically, AM fungi improve host plant growth by providing soil nutrients (Smith and Read 2008), water (Augé 2001), and pathogen protection (Sikes et al. 2010). In doing so, they can influence C, N, and P dynamics within ecosystems, and—given their worldwide abundance—at the global scale as well (Mohan et al. 2014; Soudzilovskaia et al. 2015b). By considering the global distribution and functions of AM fungi, we may better predict large-scale C, N, and P cycling (Brzostek et al. 2014; Treseder 2016). Additionally, because AM fungal taxa vary in their effects on plant growth and nutrient uptake (van der Heijden et al. 1998a;Maherali and Klironomos 2007; Chagnon et al. 2013; Johnson et al. 2013), it is worthwhile considering the global biogeography of individual AM taxa.