Riparian fungal communities respond to land-use mediated changes in soil properties and vegetation structure

Abstract Purpose Owing to their topographic location and nutrient rich soils, riparian forests are often converted pastures for grazing. In recent decades, remnant cleared grazing have been restored with native species. The impacts of such land-use changes on soil fungal communities unclear, despite the central roles that fungi play in key ecosystem processes. We investigated how taxonomic functional composition affected by change at different depths, if variation is related edaphic properties extant vegetation. Methods study was conducted six waterways south-eastern Australia, each comprising three types: forest, forest pasture, plants. surveyed strata vegetation sampled top-soil sub-soil characterise physicochemical communities. ITS1 region sequences were used assign composition. Results Fungal infrequently varied or depth. Overall, environmental (soil vegetation) explained 35–36% both Soil fertility (N, P, K, pH Ca) ground cover characteristics, whereas clay content, sub-canopy tree basal area. Conclusion Across studied waterways, more strongly associated mediated site-scale structure than broad-scale classes type.