Elevation Matters More Than Season in Shaping the Heterogeneity of Soil and Root Associated Ectomycorrhizal Fungal Community

This research examined how elevation and seasonal changes affect communities of beneficial fungi that help trees and plants obtain nutrients from soil. The study found that changes in elevation had a bigger impact on these fungi than seasonal changes throughout the year. This has important implications for understanding how these crucial soil organisms might respond to environmental change. Key impacts on everyday life: • Helps predict how climate change might affect forest health and growth through impacts on beneficial soil fungi • Provides insights for forest management and restoration practices across different elevations • Improves understanding of how to maintain healthy soil ecosystems that support plant growth • Informs conservation strategies for protecting fungal biodiversity in mountain environments • Contributes to knowledge about maintaining productive forest ecosystems that provide wood, clean air and water