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CC BY V4.0, Open Access
Journal article
Herbicide, not prescribed burning, drives larger shifts in soil fungal communities in a Mediterranean-type urban woodland
Urban forestry & urban greening, Vol.105, 128728
2025
Abstract
Invasive species management is increasingly important for conservation of native ecosystems, particularly for urban reserves, given their high value, visibility and disturbance. Often control methods for invasive weed species do not consider lesser-known facets of ecosystems, such as the soil fungal community. We collected soil samples from areas treated with prescribed burns, herbicide application, and combined prescribed burn and herbicide in two Mediterranean climate-type, urban woodlands in southwestern Australia, and subjected the extracted DNA to high throughput sequencing to describe the fungal communities present. We found that the soil fungal community in the two sites responded similarly and was broadly resistant to the management applications. However, herbicide application was associated with a reduction in relative abundances of some phyla and families, as well as key functional groups, compared to non-treated controls. Fire appeared to offset the negative effects of herbicide application, indicating complex interactions with the soil fungal community. Herbicide application in combination with fire is critical for grassy weed management and promoting native plant species regeneration in this system. Our results highlight the need to further examine herbicide effects on soil fungi and further research is needed to quantify effect duration for all treatments.
Details
- Title
- Herbicide, not prescribed burning, drives larger shifts in soil fungal communities in a Mediterranean-type urban woodland
- Authors/Creators
- Aaron J. BraceKatinka X. Ruthrof - Murdoch University, Centre for Terrestrial Ecosystem Science and SustainabilityJoseph B. Fontaine - Murdoch University, Centre for Terrestrial Ecosystem Science and SustainabilityBen P Miller - Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and AttractionsAnna J.M. Hopkins
- Publication Details
- Urban forestry & urban greening, Vol.105, 128728
- Publisher
- Elsevier GmbH.
- Number of pages
- 12
- Grant note
- Edith Cowan PhD higher degree by research scholarshipAustralian Research Council: LP160100996 Edith Cowan University Centre for Ecosystem Management school awardBotanical Gardens and Parks Authority
This work was funded by Edith Cowan PhD higher degree by research scholarship and an Edith Cowan University Centre for Ecosystem Management school award with cash contributions from the Botanical Gardens and Parks Authority (now part of Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions) . This study utilised sites from a larger project funded by the Australian Research Council (Linkage grant LP160100996) . Thank you to the students, staff and volunteers at the Botanical Gardens and Parks Authority and the Department of Parks and Wildlife (both now part of Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and At-tractions) at Kings Park and Bold Park, for the sample collection and storage. We wish to acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land that this work was undertaken on, the Whadjuk (Perth region) people. We wish to acknowledge and respect their continuing culture and the contribution they make to the life of this city and this region.
- Identifiers
- 991005743939607891
- Copyright
- © 2025 The Authors.
- Murdoch Affiliation
- Centre for Terrestrial Ecosystem Science and Sustainability; School of Environmental and Conservation Sciences
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Journal article
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InCites Highlights
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- Citation topics
- 3 Agriculture, Environment & Ecology
- 3.60 Herbicides, Pesticides & Ground Poisoning
- 3.60.812 Pesticide Degradation
- Web Of Science research areas
- Environmental Studies
- Forestry
- Plant Sciences
- Urban Studies
- ESI research areas
- Environment/Ecology