ecosystem, with productivity differing in different parts and it supported the
most diverse plant communities. Many plant species only survive in a commu-
nity because of the fungi. Any one fungus species can enhance the growth of
one plant species but inhibit another whereas a different fungus can have the
reverse effect in the same community.
In communities dominated by ecto- or ectendomycorrhizal fungi, i.e. conif-
erous forests, heathlands, many temperate woodlands and some tropical and
subtropical woodlands on acid soils, all the dominant plants may be connected
underground via the network of anastomosing mycorrhiza and the plants may
compete for the nutrients within this network. Any plant that is not connected
with the mycorrhiza is likely to be unable to obtain nutrients over much of the
habitat. Early attempts to plant new forest species, e.g. in Australia and the
Caribbean, especially conifers, failed because of the lack of mycorrhiza which
had to be imported from their native habitats before the plantations were
successful.M1 – Mycorrhiza 205