This research examines how different species of beneficial fungi compete to form partnerships with pine tree roots, and how their competitive abilities change depending on their life stage. The findings help explain how fungal communities in forests change over time, similar to how different plant species succeed one another as forests mature. Impact on everyday life: – Helps forest managers better understand and maintain healthy tree-fungal partnerships – Provides insights for restoration of disturbed forest ecosystems – Contributes to understanding how climate change might affect forest health through impacts on fungal communities – Could inform development of better fungal inoculants for tree nurseries and reforestation efforts