Biodiversity's 'holy grail' is in the soil : Soil-borne pathogens drive tree diversity in forests, study shows

ScienceDaily (2010-06-28) -- What determines plant diversity in a forest? It's a question even Charles Darwin wanted to unravel. But most research into forest diversity demonstrates only patterns of species survival and abundance rather than the reason for them -- until now. Scientists have now shown that soil-borne pathogens are one important mechanism that can maintain species diversity and explain patterns of tree abundance in a forest.