Soil Functionality Undermined by Symbiotic Fungal Decline Following Forest Conversion

Area of Science:

• Ecology
• Soil Science
• Microbiology

Background:

• Land-use change, particularly forest conversion, significantly impacts terrestrial ecosystems.
• Aboveground biodiversity and biomass are threatened by native forest conversion.
• The effects of land-use change on soil ecological functions and microbial communities are not fully understood.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the impact of native forest conversion on soil functions related to carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus cycling.
• To investigate the role of soil microbial communities, especially fungi, in mediating these functional changes.
• To identify key microbial taxa and genes associated with soil functional impairment.

Main Methods:

• Measured nine enzyme activities in soils from native forests, plantations, and croplands.
• Analyzed soil fungal and bacterial diversity (alpha-diversity).
• Utilized metagenomic sequencing to assess microbial functional genes.

Main Results:

• Soil functionality significantly declined after forest conversion, with the greatest reduction in croplands.
• The decline in soil function correlated with reduced fungal richness, not bacterial diversity.
• Loss of symbiotic fungi (e.g., Lactifluus, Tomentella) and associated microbial genes drove functional impairment.

Conclusions:

• Native forest conversion severely impairs soil ecological functions.
• Fungal communities, particularly symbiotic taxa, are critical for maintaining soil health and nutrient cycling.
• Conservation and restoration of key fungal taxa are essential for ecosystem functionality in managed landscapes.