Richness of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi increases with ecosystem degradation of temperate eucalypt woodlands

Abstract Purpose Degraded ecosystems can be maintained by abiotic and biotic legacies long after initial disturbances, preventing recovery. These include changes in arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF). To inform potential restoration pathways, we aimed to elucidate differences AMF between intact degraded ecosystems, their responses modified soils, interactions with invasive plants. Methods We used a state-and-transition framework characterise communities, native exotic plant cover, soil physicochemical properties across little-modified reference states states, which were carbon (C) nitrogen (N) -depleted, intermediate, CN-enriched, temperate eucalypt woodlands of south-eastern Australia. Results Most ground-layer differed significantly the CN-enriched being most distinct. All had unique taxa characteristic indicator taxa, but intermediate harboured four-to-five times more than state. Consistent this, richness was higher driven Archaeosporaceae, Diversisporaceae, Glomeraceae, Paraglomeraceae. Pathway analysis indicated that communities among strongly related native:exotic cover ratio, mediated organic matter nutrients. Conclusion Our results indicate ecosystem degradation is associated both loss introduction ‘weedy’ AMF, turn potentially contribute maintenance ecosystems. argue our approach characterising improved understanding different pathways degradation, elucidating possible constraints