DOI: 10.5061/dryad.4n5h7
title: Data from: Germination patterns in three terrestrial orchids relate to abundance of mycorrhizal fungi

description: 1. The spatial distribution of plants, which is often generated by
 patterns of seed recruitment, is an important determinant of population
 dynamics, especially for orchids with seeds that must be exposed to
 appropriate mycorrhizal fungi. 2. We compared the distribution and
 abundance of target mycorrhizal fungi detected in the soil using DNA-based
 molecular techniques and germination in seed packets of Goodyera
 pubescens, Liparis liliifolia, and Tipularia discolor. 3. We further
 examined Tulasnella spp. associated with G. pubescens to determine whether
 areas with abundant host fungi resulted from multiple genets of the same
 species or from a single widespread fungal genet. 4. We found that target
 fungi were more likely to be detected using soil DNA assays than by seed
 germination. Based on soil DNA, fungi were more widespread than suggested
 by seed germination, which most often reflected the presence of abundant
 mycorrhizal fungi in the soil. Fungi were more likely to be abundant close
 to established orchids. Established plants of G. pubescens that were
 &lt;50cm apart associated with a single abundant fungal genet, while
 those &gt;50 cm apart associated with multiple fungal genets. 5.
 Synthesis. This study demonstrates the importance of using multiple
 methods to detect the distribution and abundance of target fungi and
 suggests that fungal ‘hot spots’ may be keys to the dynamics of orchid
 populations.
description: All Arrays Seed Packets
 and fungi_for DryadAll Arrays Seed Packets
 and fungi_for Dryad.txt This datafile includes the numbers and sizes of
 protocorms recovered from seedpackets placed at varying distances from
 conspecific plants and the abundance of fungi associated with those
 seedpackets. Missing data are indicated by a “.”. Data were collected by
 Melissa McCormick, Robert Burnett, and Dennis Whigham. Questions should be
 directed to Melissa McCormick. Column headings Species: The orchid species
 of seeds added to the plot in seedpacket. Goodyera=Goodyera pubescens;
 Liparis=Liparis liliifolia; Tipularia=Tipularia discolor Plot: Designates
 which of the arrays (e.g., BPLg) seed packets were recovered from. The
 array names also indicate whether the array was associated with a cluster
 of plants, in which case it ends in ‘Lg’, or an isolated plant, in which
 case the name ends in ‘i’. The plots were in forest stands that ranged
 from 70 to 150 years old at the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center,
 Edgewater, Maryland, USA. Distance: Indicates the distance (in cm) from
 the seedpacket to the nearest conspecific plant. Direction: Indicates
 which ‘arm’ of the array the seed packet was located on. ‘Arms’ were
 oriented based on cardinal directions and are noted as n=north, s=south,
 e=east, w=west. Protocorms: Indicates the number of protocorms recovered
 from each seedpacket. Size (mm): Indicates the size in mm of the largest
 protocorm found in each seedpacket. A ‘.’ indicates no protocorms were
 recovered from a seedpacket. Fungus Abundance: Indicates the abundance of
 appropriate mycorrhizal fungi in the soil associated with each seedpacket.
 Abundance is noted as 0=absent or 1-5=present, with 5 indicating the
 greatest abundance and 1 the least. Abundance was measured
 semi-quantitatively from the sum of ARISA peak heights for two
 microsatellite primers (Goodyera) or the brightness of gel bands using
 taxon-specific primers (Liparis, Tipularia).