Maintenance of high plant diversity in phosphorus-impoverished ecosystems

该项目的目的是确定土壤中的病原体和共生真菌的作用，在澳大利亚的高度多样化的灌木丛植物多样性的维护。它们是世界上物种最丰富的系统之一，但却出现在极其贫瘠的土壤上。该项目测试的假设是，最适合在这些极其贫瘠的土壤中获得磷的植物最容易受到土壤病原体的影响。这种权衡将平衡植物物种之间竞争能力的差异，促进植物的高度多样性。该项目将有助于阐明病原体和共生真菌如何共同推动澳大利亚全球重要生物多样性热点地区的植物多样性，并与其他生物多样性地区相关。

This project aims to determine the role of soil-inhabiting pathogens and symbiotic fungi in the maintenance of plant diversity in Australia’s hyperdiverse shrublands. These are among the world’s most species-rich systems, yet occur on extremely poor soils. This project tests the hypothesis that plants that are best adapted to acquire phosphorus in these extremely infertile soils are most susceptible to soil pathogens. This trade-off would equalise differences in competitive abilities among plant species and promote high plant diversity. The project will help elucidate how pathogens and symbiotic fungi together drive plant diversity in a globally significant biodiversity hotspot in Australia, with relevance to other biodiverse regions.