High spatial but low temporal variability in ectomycorrhizal community composition in Abies alba forest stands

The ectomycorrhizal symbionts of silver fir have rarely been analyzed and identified, so little is known about their diversity and distribution. The aim of this study was (1) to analyze the diversity of ectomycorrhizal fungal species in three geographically distinct forest stands of Abies alba and (2) to demonstrate the high temporal variability of the ectomycorrhizal community over two consecutive growing seasons using repeated monthly sampling. Root samples were taken every month during two growing seasons in three silver fir-dominated forest stands. The ectomycorrhizal root tips were first assigned to a morphotype based on morphological characteristics and then identified by sequencing the internal transcribed spacer region. Alpha and beta diversity differed significantly between all three study sites, with the most diverse and even ectomycorrhizal community described in plot Jelovški boršt. The diversity indices over the growing season were different at two of the three study sites, supporting the idea of a fluctuation of ectomycorrhizal taxa during the growing seasons of the two consecutive years. While significant temporal variability was only confirmed for certain ectomycorrhizal taxa, there were no significant changes in the ectomycorrhizal community in general. Thus, we confirmed the high spatial but low temporal variability of the ectomycorrhizal community associated with silver fir.