The Role of <i>Castilleja spp.</i> In Plant and Mycorrhizae Communities Within Various Climates

Abstract

Hemiparasites such as those in the genus Castilleja have important effects on the plant communities they are found in. For example, hemiparasitic plants may reduce the abundance of dominant plant species, opening niche space for sub- ordinates. This effect may be driven by direct parasitism of Castilleja on dominant hosts species or maybe mediated through indirect interactions as Castilleja compete with root-associated fungal communities, like arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and dark septate endophytes, for host carbon. Here we explored how Castilleja affects plant diversity, richness, and community composition, and how Castilleja influenced the relationship between dominant plants in the community and their root-associated fungal communities. Overall, we found that the presence of Castilleja increased plant diversity 9%, increased species richness 11%, without influencing plant community composition. Additionally, we found that Castilleja affected dominant plant interactions with mycorrhizal fungi, leading to an 18% reduction in arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal colonization within dominant root tissues.

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