Agricultural disturbance reduces arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal diversity and biomass by excluding specialist species
This study investigates how agricultural disturbance influences arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungal diversity, biomass, and community niche structure. Utilizing niche concepts, we show that the AM fungal communities in intensively managed soils exhibited larger niche volumes and an increased proportion of culturable taxa, which negatively impacted biomass production. This process was primarily driven by the reduction in specialist taxa, indicating a functional homogenization of the community. Intensively disturbed low-biomass AM fungal communities were composed of species that can persist under low host abundance. Our findings reveal that intensive management disturbance significantly decreased AM fungal species richness and biomass simultaneously. Preserving AM fungal diversity is essential for maintaining their biomass and functionality, underscoring the detrimental effects of intensive agricultural practices on these critical soil organisms and their potential consequences for soil health and ecosystem functioning.
Authors
- Martti Vasar (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4674-932X)
- Tanel Vahter (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4343-5288)
- Liina Talgre (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0949-6973)
- Anne Ingver (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3715-1497)
- Priit Penu
- Siqiao Liu (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0680-1816)
- John Davison (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0161-6195)
- Alar Astover (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8924-6925)
- Maarja Öpik (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8025-7460)
- Ilmar Tamm (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4934-988X)
- Reine Koppel (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2586-6375)
- Siim‐Kaarel Sepp (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2906-4609)
- Inga Hiiesalu (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5457-2376)
- Jane Oja (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1446-2284)
- Ülle Tamm
- Martin Zobel (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7957-6704)
- Anne Luik
- A. Y. Ayesh Piyara Wipulasena
- Evelin Loit‐Harro
- Merili Simmer
Institutions
- Estonian University of Life Sciences (EE)
- Chinese Academy of Sciences (CN)
- Northeast Institute of Geography and Agroecology (CN)
- Centre of Estonian Rural Research and Knowledge (EE)
- Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NL)
- University of Tartu (EE)
Publication Details
- Journal
- New Phytologist
- Published
- 2025-09-04
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1111/nph.70548
- Citations
- 3
- Primary Topic
- Mycorrhizal Fungi and Plant Interactions
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 5.25
Funders
- Eesti Teadusagentuur