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Journal article
How soil fungal communities respond to invasive plant species treatments in soil from Banksia woodland, south-western Australia
Australian journal of botany, Vol.73(4), BT24083
2025
Abstract
Context
Invasive plants are one of the most significant threats to woodlands globally. Methods of invasive plant control include manual removal and herbicide application. While the impacts of control methods on invasive and off-target native plant species are often explored, the impacts on below-ground organisms, such as fungi, are less well understood.
Aims
We conducted a glasshouse trial to investigate the responses of soil fungal communities to herbicides and manual removal that are used to control common invasive plant species in Banksia woodland in south-western Australia.
Methods
Broad spectrum (glyphosate and pelargonic acid) and grass-specific (fluazifop-p-butyl) herbicides were separately applied to pots containing either Ehrharta calycina, a key invasive grass species or Eucalyptus todtiana, a native woodland tree at the recommended woodland rate. After six weeks, samples of treated soils were subjected to high throughput sequencing to determine fungal community diversity, richness, relative abundance, composition and putative ecosystem function.
Key results
Pelargonic acid induced the widest range of changes including decreased fungal richness and Shannon diversity but all herbicides affected community composition. Within functional groups, fluazifop-p-butyl led to a significant decrease of symbiotrophs in the mycorrhizal species.
Conclusions
We show that invasive species management, in the manner applied, can lead to immediate changes in fungal community composition.
Implications
Observed patterns require further exploration, particularly repeat testing under different environmental conditions, to better determine the impact and mode of action of herbicides on below-ground organisms. The functional changes in the soil fungal community could further disturb the soil fungal community and complicate subsequent management considerations.
Details
- Title
- How soil fungal communities respond to invasive plant species treatments in soil from Banksia woodland, south-western Australia
- 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
- Australian journal of botany, Vol.73(4), BT24083
- Publisher
- CSIRO Publishing
- Number of pages
- 16
- Identifiers
- 991005779523207891
- Copyright
- © 2025 The Author(s) (or their employer(s)).
- 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
These are selected metrics from InCites Benchmarking & Analytics tool, related to this output
- Collaboration types
- Domestic collaboration
- Citation topics
- 3 Agriculture, Environment & Ecology
- 3.60 Herbicides, Pesticides & Ground Poisoning
- 3.60.812 Pesticide Degradation
- Web Of Science research areas
- Plant Sciences
- ESI research areas
- Plant & Animal Science