ASV richness
Host was the most important predictor of ASV fungal richness (Table 3),
with one host – S. chirindensis – consistently supporting fewer
ASVs (mean = 83.94 ± 52.79) than C. inerme (mean = 218.5 ± 95.8)
and E. crispa (mean = 245.85 ± 70. 82) (Figure 4). The best
subset GLMM model testing the effect of abiotic, biotic and spatial
factors on ASV fungal endophyte richness retained light intensity; the
interaction between host species and tree height and the interaction
between host species and maximum temperature. Both the interactions
between host and maximum temperature, and between host and tree height
were significant (Figure 4, Table 3). Fungal ASV richness increased as
light intensity decreased (Figure 4a). ASV endophyte richness decreased
in S. chirindensis individuals that experienced higher maximum
temperatures (Figure 4b) but was unaffected by temperature differences
experienced by individuals of C. inerme and E. crispa(Figure 4b). Additionally, ASV endophyte richness decreased with tree
height for S. chirindensis but did not change with tree height inC. inerme and E. crispa (Figure 4c). Fixed effects
explained 63% of variation in ASV richness (Table 3).