Variations in biomass of fungal guilds are primarily driven by factors related to soil conditions in Mediterranean Pinus pinaster forests

Abstract Soil fungi are vital for regulating ecosystem carbon balance and productivity, by driving processes related to soil nutrient cycling. The rate capacity of fungi-mediated linked fungal biomass dynamics identifying the drivers is important predicting responses environmental changes. Here, ergosterol-based estimates ITS2-based community composition profiles were used assess guilds. Effects forest management (thinning), factors (soil chemical properties, microclimate, weather stand composition) season identify guild-specific biomass. Biomass most guilds increased with availability (nitrogen potassium in particular) decreased thinning, variation total was mainly driven mycorrhizal Most reached a minimum during summer except root-associated ascomycetes, which instead winter. Mycorrhizal ascomycetes displayed similar spatiotemporal variability Yeasts moulds only displaying strong linkages whereas pathogenic moss-associated largely diverged their factors. results our study highlight that nutrients may have an overall stronger effect on Mediterranean Pinus pinaster forests than direct influences management.