Ectomycorrhizal Fungal Richness Research Articles

Reducing the infectivity and richness of ectomycorrhizal fungi in a calcareous Quercus ilex forest through soil preparations for truffle plantation establishment: A bioassay study

In the early years of a black truffle plantation, the field proliferation of the nursery-inoculated fungi can be hampered by native ectomycorrhizal fungi colonising the seedling roots. Reducing the soil ectomycorrhizal infectivity in the planting hole before introducing the inoculated seedling could be an effective strategy to reduce this problem. Three bioassays were conducted to evaluate the impact of several soil preparations on the ectomycorrhizal infectivity and richness of a Quercus ilex soil in a truffle-producing region. Microwaves, quicklime, and acetic acid significantly decreased the percent root colonisation and morphotype richness of the native ectomycorrhizal fungi. However, they also decreased seedling survival or growth. Peracetic acid, hydrogen peroxide, and sodium hypochlorite did not show a significant negative effect on the soil ectomycorrhizal community. The results support the potential of soil preparation for reducing the ectomycorrhizal infectivity of forest soils, thus being a promising strategy to reduce the early colonisation by native fungi in truffle plantations. However, the indications of damage to the seedling development must be addressed.

The role of seedling nutrient status on development of ectomycorrhizal fungal communities in two soil types following surface mining disturbance

Abstract Severe disturbances, such as those caused by surface mining, sever connections between ectomycorrhizal (ECM) fungi and their hosts. In this study, we examined the importance of internal plant nutritional status and soil type on the abundance and composition of ECM communities in newly established reclamation areas. Ectomycorrhizal fungi were examined on two aspen (Populus tremuloides) seedling stock types that differed in root nutrient concentrations at time of planting. Stock types were planted into two salvaged soil types, an upland forest soil and a lowland peat-mineral soil mix, placed on a reclaimed mining site. Two growing seasons following planting, ECM fungal richness and abundance was low with only four operational taxonomic units identified across the reclamation site. Initial seedling nutrient status affected the total amount of ECM fungi on seedling roots; seedlings with initially high root nutrient reserves (N, P and starch) had more root tips colonized by ECM fungi than seedlings with initially lower nutrient tissue concentrations. Soil type did not affect total amount of ECM colonization; however, the relative abundance of an individual species, Cenococcum geophilum, was influenced by soil type. Seedling nutrient reserves, independent of soil nutrition, affects the amount of ECM root colonization, while soil type affects the relative abundance of some ECM fungi colonizing roots.

Infection with foliar pathogenic fungi does not alter the receptivity of Norway spruce seedlings to ectomycorrhizal fungi

We studied whether the induction of defence against foliar pathogens affects the interaction of Norway spruce (Picea abies) with ectomycorrhizal fungi (EMF) and whether the response differs between seedlings originating from families showing variable growth performance in long-term trials. The shoots were inoculated with Botrytis cinerea and Gibberella avenacea. The roots were simultaneously inoculated with sieved humus to provide the EMF inoculum. The severity of the pathogenic infection was based on the amount of damage and induced production of condensed tannins in the needles. EMF richness and colonisation were not affected by the pathogens and were also identical between the fast- and slow-growing seedlings. The fast-growing seedlings were more vulnerable to the pathogens; however, the constitutive level of condensed tannins in the needles did not correlate with their susceptibility to either the pathogenic or symbiotic fungi. G. avenacea induced a marginally greater production of condensed tannins in the slow-growing seedlings, which was linked to a slight reduction in EMF richness and less needle damage after wintering. Our results suggest that there are differences in resource allocation strategies between the fast- and slow-growing spruce families, which may indicate the presence of underlying host effects that regulate interactions with associated fungi.

Ectomycorrhizal fungal communities of Quercus liaotungensis along different successional stands on the Loess Plateau, China

Although Quercus liaotungensis forest is an important component of Loess Plateau forest ecosystems, little is known about the ectomycorrhizal fungal (EMF) symbiosis of Q. liaotungensis in this ecosystem. Here we investigated EMF communities of Q. liaotungensis along three successional stands on the central Loess Plateau (Yan'an, China): a seedling stand (1 to 3-year-old seedlings under a Populus davidiana forest stand), a young tree stand (20 to 30-year-old Q. liaotungensis forest stand), and a mature tree stand (50 to 70-year-old Q. liaotungensis forest stand). In each stand, the Q. liaotungensis roots were sampled, then EMF communities were examined on the basis of EMF morphotyping, PCR–RFLP, and DNA sequencing. In total, 70 EMF species were observed, and the total richness of estimated species exceeded 100 EMF species. The EMF community was composed of a few common taxa (approx. 7 %) and many rare taxa (approx. 61 %). EMF richness in young and mature trees was higher than in seedlings. EMF communities of young and mature trees were more similar than those of seedlings and trees. Nonmetric multidimensional scaling ordinations of the EMF community revealed more separation among Q. liaotungensis of different age. This study provides preliminary insight into the taxonomic diversity of EMF of Q. liaotungensis along different successional stands on the Loess Plateau.

The mid-domain effect in ectomycorrhizal fungi: range overlap along an elevation gradient on Mount Fuji, Japan.

Mid-domain effect (MDE) models predict that the random placement of species' ranges within a bounded geographical area leads to increased range overlap and species richness in the center of the bounded area. These models are frequently applied to study species-richness patterns of macroorganisms, but the MDE in relation to microorganisms is poorly understood. In this study, we examined the characteristics of the MDE in richness patterns of ectomycorrhizal (EM) fungi, an ecologically important group of soil symbionts. We conducted intensive soil sampling to investigate overlap among species ranges and the applicability of the MDE to EM fungi in four temperate forest stands along an elevation gradient on Mount Fuji, Japan. Molecular analyses using direct sequencing revealed 302 EM fungal species. Of 73 EM fungal species found in multiple stands, 72 inhabited a continuous range along the elevation gradient. The maximum overlap in species range and the highest species richness occurred at elevations in the middle of the gradient. The observed richness pattern also fit within the 95% confidence interval of the mid-domain null model, supporting the role of the MDE in EM fungal richness. Deviation in observed richness from the mean of the mid-domain null estimation was negatively correlated with some environmental factors, including precipitation and soil C/N, indicating that unexplained richness patterns could be driven by these environmental factors. Our results clearly support the existence of microbial species' ranges along environmental gradients and the potential applicability of the MDE to better understand microbial diversity patterns.

Host plant richness explains diversity of ectomycorrhizal fungi: Response to the comment of Tedersooet al. (2014)

Exploring the relationships between the biodiversity of groups of interacting organisms yields insight into ecosystem stability and function (Hooper etal. ; Wardle ). We demonstrated positive relationships between host plant richness and ectomycorrhizal (EM) fungal diversity both in a field study in subtropical China (Gutianshan) and in a meta-analysis of temperate and tropical studies (Gao etal. ). However, based on re-evaluation of our data sets, Tedersoo etal. () argue that the observed positive correlation between EM fungal richness and EM plant richness at Gutianshan and also in our metastudies was based mainly from (i) a sampling design with inconsistent species pool and (ii) poor data compilation for the meta-analysis. Accordingly, we checked our data sets and repeated the analysis performed by Tedersoo etal. (). In contrast to Tedersoo etal. (), our re-analysis still confirms a positive effect of plant richness on EM fungal diversity in Gutianshan, temperate and tropical ecosystems, respectively.

Studies on ectomycorrhizal basidiomycete in pine forest on the Lithuania-Poland transboundary region

The diversity of ectomycorrhizal fungi and sporocarps abundance were investigated in 2003-2005 at nine permanent study plots in a 50-year-old pine forest. Diversity of ectomycorrhizal fungi consisted of 53 taxa and the majority of them belonged to the genera <em>Cortinarius, Russula, Amanita</em> and <em>Tricholoma</em>. The most frequent species, whose fruit bodies were found in each study plot, were <em>C. cibarius, L. necator L. rufus, P. involutus, R. aeruginea, T. saponaceum</em> and the most abundant species which made the main part of total sporocarp yield were <em>C. cibarius</em> and <em>P. involutus</em>. The lowest species richness of ectomycorrhizal fungi was in study plots with the densest cover of grasses. Maximum of species over the fruiting period was characteristic for October and for September. It was noticed that some species virtually never occurred together at the same plot (eg. <em>C. cibarius</em> and <em>H. aurantiaca</em>), meanwhile others occurred together quite frequently (eg. <em>H.aurantiaca</em> and <em>X. badius</em>).

Network perspectives of ectomycorrhizal associations

Network analysis has successfully been applied to investigate ecological interactions. Most information about the structure of ecological networks is derived from aboveground interactions of plants with pollinators and seed dispersers. Here we examine ectomycorrhizal interactions between plants and fungi in a network perspective that has received little attention so far. For network analyses, we examined the main network properties-nestedness and modularity. Certain ectomycorrhizal fungal communities displayed modularity, which is directly attributable to partner selectivity and, thus, context dependent. Our data also showed that ectomycorrhizal networks exhibit non-nested or anti-nested patterns, which is in contrast to other mutualistic interactions. The low level of nestedness may indicate that specific ectomycorrhizal plant species do not favour generalist ectomycorrhizal fungi over specialists and vice versa. This can stem from a strong selection pressure of host in choosing its mycobionts as suggested from the substantial host phylogeny effect on ectomycorrhizal fungal richness and community. Whether the low level of nestedness in ectomycorrhizal associations is due to methodological or ecological factors requires further investigation.

Uncommon ectomycorrhizal networks: richness and distribution of Alnus‐associating ectomycorrhizal fungal communities

Uncommon ectomycorrhizal networks: richness and distribution of <i>Alnus</i>‐associating ectomycorrhizal fungal communities

Temperate eucalypt forest decline is linked to altered ectomycorrhizal communities mediated by soil chemistry

Eucalypt forest decline has a complex aetiology often linked to altered soil chemistry caused by environmental disturbances. Forest decline has also been linked to alterations in ectomycorrhizal (ECM) fungal communities, which are imperative for nutrient transfer and affect ecosystem productivity and health. Our aim was to determine the influence of soil chemistry on ECM fungal communities and tree health in declining temperate eucalypt forests. We hypothesise that forests with changed soil chemistry, in particular altered nitrogen cycling associated with forest decline, supports unique ECM fungal communities. ECM communities from twelve Eucalyptus delegatensis forest plots were characterised by DNA sequencing of root tip and sporocarp samples. Tree health and nutrient concentrations from soil and foliage samples were quantified for each plot. Multivariate and regression analyses and t-tests were used to determine ECM fungal community differences between forest health classes, and identify which soil variables were important for defining these communities. Elevated available soil nitrogen and soil acidity were associated with severely declining forest. Soil pH, nitrate and organic carbon significantly explained the majority of variation in ECM fungal community composition and structure, which differed between moderately and severely declining forest. Russulaceae species richness was greatest in acidic soils (severely declining forest) while Cortinariaceae species richness was greatest in soils with lower concentrations of soil nitrate (moderately declining forest). Total ECM fungal richness was inversely related to available soil phosphorus and soil nitrate. Thus, altered soil chemistry associated with eucalypt forest decline mediates changes in the ECM fungal community. Forest management must consider the role of disturbance in maintaining suitable soil conditions for symbiotic fungi which are important for maintaining healthy eucalypt forest and restoring declining forest ecosystems.

Endophyte communities vary in the needles of Norway spruce clones

Endophytic fungi show no symptoms of their presence but can influence the performance and vitality of host trees. The potential use of endophytes to indicate vitality has been previously realized, but a standard protocol has yet to be developed due to an incomplete understanding of the factors that regulate endophyte communities. Using a culture-free molecular approach, we examined the extent to which host genotype influences the abundance, species richness, and community composition of endophytic fungi in Norway spruce needles. Briefly, total DNA was extracted from the surface-sterilized needles of 30 clones grown in a nursery field and the copy number of the fungal internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of ribosomal DNA was estimated by quantitative PCR. Fungal species richness and community composition were determined by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis and DNA sequencing. We found that community structure and ITS copy number varied among spruce clones, whereas species richness did not. Host traits interacting with endophyte communities included needle surface area and the location of cuttings in the experimental area. Although Lophodermium piceae is considered the dominant needle endophyte of Norway spruce, we detected this species in only 33 % of samples. The most frequently observed fungus (66 %) was the potentially pathogenic Phoma herbarum. Interestingly, ITS copy number of endophytic fungi correlated negatively with the richness of ectomycorrhizal fungi and thus potential interactions between fungal communities and their influence on the host tree are discussed. Our results suggest that in addition to environmental factors, endophyte communities of spruce needles are determined by host tree identity and needle surface area.

Scaling up: examining the macroecology of ectomycorrhizal fungi

Ectomycorrhizal (ECM) fungi play major ecological roles in temperate and tropical ecosystems. Although the richness of ECM fungal communities and the factors controlling their structure have been documented at local spatial scales, how they vary at larger spatial scales remains unclear. In this issue of Molecular Ecology, Tedersoo et al. (2012) present the results of a meta-analysis of ECM fungal community structure that sheds important new light on global-scale patterns. Using data from 69 study systems and 6021 fungal species, the researchers found that ECM fungal richness does not fit the classic latitudinal diversity gradient in which species richness peaks at lower latitudes. Instead, richness of ECM fungal communities has a unimodal relationship with latitude that peaks in temperate zones. Intriguingly, this conclusion suggests the mechanisms driving ECM fungal community richness may differ from those of many other organisms, including their plant hosts. Future research will be key to determine the robustness of this pattern and to examine the processes that generate and maintain global-scale gradients of ECM fungal richness.

Genetic host-tree effects on the ectomycorrhizal community and root characteristics of Norway spruce

A greenhouse experiment was used to study the effects of host genotype on short root formation and ectomycorrhizal (ECM) fungal community structure in Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.). Rooted cuttings representing 55 clones were inoculated with a mix of vegetative hyphae of five ECM fungal species (Laccaria sp., Amphinema byssoides, Piloderma sp., Cadophora finlandia, Paxillus involutus). After one growing season, the ECM fungal community structure was determined by amplifying the fungal internal transcribed spacer (ITS) of ribosomal DNA directly from ECM root tips. Restriction profiles of obtained amplicons were then compared to those of the inoculated strains. Spruce clones differed in their ECM fungal community composition; we found a statistically significant clone-specific effect on ECM fungal diversity and dominating fungal species. Nevertheless, the broad sense heritabilities of the levels of Laccaria sp., Piloderma sp. and A. byssoides colonisations as well as the ECM fungal community structure were low (H(2) = 0.04-0.11), owing to the high within-clone variation. As nitrogen concentration of needles correlated negatively with ECM fungal richness, our results imply that in the experimental conditions nutrient acquisition of young trees may benefit from colonisation with only one or two ECM fungal species. The heritability of short root density was moderate (H(2) = 0.41) and highest among all the measured shoot and root growth characteristics of Norway spruce cuttings. We suggest that the genetic component determining root growth and short root formation is significant for the performance of young trees in natural environments as these traits drive the formation of the below-ground symbiotic interactions.

Towards global patterns in the diversity and community structure of ectomycorrhizal fungi

Global species richness patterns of soil micro-organisms remain poorly understood compared to macro-organisms. We use a global analysis to disentangle the global determinants of diversity and community composition for ectomycorrhizal (EcM) fungi-microbial symbionts that play key roles in plant nutrition in most temperate and many tropical forest ecosystems. Host plant family has the strongest effect on the phylogenetic community composition of fungi, whereas temperature and precipitation mostly affect EcM fungal richness that peaks in the temperate and boreal forest biomes, contrasting with latitudinal patterns of macro-organisms. Tropical ecosystems experience rapid turnover of organic material and have weak soil stratification, suggesting that poor habitat conditions may contribute to the relatively low richness of EcM fungi, and perhaps other soil biota, in most tropical ecosystems. For EcM fungi, greater evolutionary age and larger total area of EcM host vegetation may also contribute to the higher diversity in temperate ecosystems. Our results provide useful biogeographic and ecological hypotheses for explaining the distribution of fungi that remain to be tested by involving next-generation sequencing techniques and relevant soil metadata.

Ectomycorrhizal fungal communities associated with Masson pine (Pinus massoniana Lamb.) in Pb–Zn mine sites of central south China

To advance our understanding of ectomycorrhizal fungal communities in mining areas, the diversity and composition of ectomycorrhizal fungi associated with Masson pine (Pinus massoniana Lamb.) and soil chemistry were investigated in Taolin lead-zinc (Pb-Zn) mine tailings (TLT), two fragmented forest patches in a Huayuan Pb-Zn mineland (HY1 and HY2), and a non-polluted forest in Taolin in central south China. Ectomycorrhizal fungal species were identified by morphotyping and sequence analyses of the internally transcribed spacer regions of ribosomal DNA. The two study sites in the Huayuan mineland (HY1 and HY2) were significantly different in soil Pb, Zn, and cadmium (Cd) concentrations, but no significant difference was observed in ectomycorrhizal colonization, ectomycorrhizal fungal richness, diversity, or rank-abundance. In addition, the similarity of ectomycorrhizal fungal communities between HY1 and HY2 was quite high (Sørensen similarity index = 0.47). Thus, the concentration of heavy metals may not be determining factors in the structure of these communities. In the tailings, however, significantly lower ectomycorrhizal colonization and ectomycorrhizal fungal richness were observed. The amounts of Pb and Zn in the tailing sand were higher than the non-polluted forest but far lower than in HY1. Thus, these heavy metals did not account for the reduced colonization and ectomycorrhizal fungal richness in TLT. The ectomycorrhizal fungal community in TLT was dominated by four pioneer species (Rhizopogon buenoi, Tomentella ellisii, Inocybe curvipes, and Suillus granulatus), which collectively accounted for 93.2% of root tip colonization. The immature soil conditions in tailing (low N and P, sand texture, and lack of organic matter) may only allow certain pioneer ectomycorrhizal fungal species to colonize the site. When soil samples from four sites were combined, we found that the occurrences of major ectomycorrhizal fungal taxa were not clearly related to the concentrations of Pb, Zn, and Cd. In conclusion, our results suggest that ectomycorrhizal fungal communities in mining areas are not necessarily affected by heavy metals themselves but could be largely determined by soil maturity.

Regional and local patterns of ectomycorrhizal fungal diversity and community structure along an altitudinal gradient in the Hyrcanian forests of northern Iran

• Altitudinal gradients strongly affect the diversity of plants and animals, yet little is known about the altitudinal effects on the distribution of microorganisms, including ectomycorrhizal fungi. • By combining morphological and molecular identification methods, we addressed the relative effects of altitude, temperature, precipitation, host community and soil nutrient concentrations on species richness and community composition of ectomycorrhizal fungi in one of the last remaining temperate old-growth forests in Eurasia. • Molecular analyses revealed 367 species of ectomycorrhizal fungi along three altitudinal transects. Species richness declined monotonically with increasing altitude. Host species and altitude were the main drivers of the ectomycorrhizal fungal community composition at both the local and regional scales. The mean annual temperature and precipitation were strongly correlated with altitude and accounted for the observed patterns of richness and community. • The decline of ectomycorrhizal fungal richness with increasing altitude is consistent with the general altitudinal richness patterns of macroorganisms. Low environmental energy reduces the competitive ability of rare species and thus has a negative effect on the richness of ectomycorrhizal fungi. Because of multicollinearity with altitude, the direct effects of climatic variables and their seasonality warrant further investigation at the regional and continental scales.

Mycorrhizal networks affect ectomycorrhizal fungal community similarity between conspecific trees and seedlings

Ectomycorrhizal (EM) networks (MN) are thought to be an important mode of EM fungal colonization of coniferous seedlings. How MNs affect EM communities on seedlings, and how this varies with biotic and abiotic factors, is integral to understanding their importance in seedling establishment. We examined EM fungal community similarity between mature trees and conspecific interior Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii var. glauca) seedlings in two experiments where seed and nursery-grown seedlings originating from different locations were planted at various distances from trees along a climatic gradient. At harvest, trees shared 60% of their fungal taxa in common with outplanted seedlings and 77% with germinants, indicating potential for seedlings to join the network of residual trees. In both experiments, community similarity between trees and seedlings increased with drought. However, community similarity was lower among nursery seedlings growing at 2.5 m from trees when they were able to form an MN, suggesting MNs reduced seedling EM fungal richness. For field germinants, MNs resulted in lower community similarity in the driest climates. Distance from trees affected community similarity of nursery seedlings to trees, but there was no interaction of provenance with MNs in their effect on similarity in either nursery seedlings or field germinants as hypothesized. We conclude that MNs of trees influence EM colonization patterns of seedlings, and the strength of these effects increases with climatic drought.

Host preferences and differential contributions of deciduous tree species shape mycorrhizal species richness in a mixed Central European forest.

SummaryMycorrhizal species richness and host ranges were investigated in mixed deciduous stands composed of Fagus sylvatica, Tilia spp., Carpinus betulus, Acer spp., and Fraxinus excelsior. Acer and Fraxinus were colonized by arbuscular mycorrhizas and contributed 5% to total stand mycorrhizal fungal species richness. Tilia hosted similar and Carpinus half the number of ectomycorrhizal (EM) fungal taxa compared with Fagus (75 putative taxa). The relative abundance of the host tree the EM fungal richness decreased in the order Fagus > Tilia >> Carpinus. After correction for similar sampling intensities, EM fungal species richness of Carpinus was still about 30–40% lower than that of Fagus and Tilia. About 10% of the mycorrhizal species were shared among the EM forming trees; 29% were associated with two host tree species and 61% with only one of the hosts. The latter group consisted mainly of rare EM fungal species colonizing about 20% of the root tips and included known specialists but also putative non-host associations such as conifer or shrub mycorrhizas. Our data indicate that EM fungal species richness was associated with tree identity and suggest that Fagus secures EM fungal diversity in an ecosystem since it shared more common EM fungi with Tilia and Carpinus than the latter two among each other.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s00572-010-0338-y) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Ectomycorrhizal fungi associated with two species of Kobresia in an alpine meadow in the eastern Himalaya

The diversity of ectomycorrhizal fungi (EMF) on Kobresia filicina and Kobresia capillifolia in an alpine meadow in China’s southwestern mountains, one of the word’s hotspots of biodiversity, was estimated based on internal transcribed spacer rDNA sequence analysis of root tips. Seventy EMF operational taxonomical units (OTUs) were found in the two plant species. Dauciform roots with EMF were detected in species of Kobresia for the first time. OTU richness of EMF was high in Tomentella/Thelophora and Inocybe, followed by Cortinarius, Sebacina, the Cenococcum geophilum complex, and Russula. Tomentella/Thelophora and Inocybe were general and dominant mycobiont genera of the two sedges. Besides the C. geophilum complex, the ascomycete components Hymenoscyphus and Lachnum were also detected on the two plants. Alpine plants in different geographical regions share similar main genera and/or families of EMF while harboring predominantly different mycobiont species; most of the members detected by us have not been found elsewhere. Significant differences in the profile of EMF occurrences were not found between the two plant species and among the three sampling seasons in our sample size.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s00572-009-0287-5) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Land use practices and ectomycorrhizal fungal communities from oak woodlands dominated by Quercus suber L. considering drought scenarios

Oak woodlands in the Mediterranean basin have been traditionally converted into agro-silvo-pastoral systems and exemplified sustainable land use in Europe. In Portugal, in line with the trend of other European countries, profound changes in management options during the twentieth century have led to landscape simplification. Landscapes are dynamic and the knowledge of future management planning combining biological conservation and soil productivity is needed, especially under the actual scenarios of drought and increasing evidence of heavy oak mortality. We examined the ectomycorrhizal (ECM) fungal community associated with cork oak in managed oak woodlands (called montado) under different land use practices, during summer. ECM fungal richness and abundance were assessed in 15 stands established in nine montados located in the Alentejo region (southern Portugal), using morphotyping and ITS rDNA analysis. Parameters related to the montados landscape characteristics, land use history over the last 25 years, climatic and edaphic conditions were taken into account. Fifty-five ECM fungal taxa corresponding to the most abundant fungal symbionts were distinguished on cork oak roots. Cenococcum geophilum and the families Russulaceae and Thelephoraceae explained 56% of the whole ECM fungal community; other groups were represented among the community: Cortinariaceae, Boletaceae, Amanita, Genea, Pisolithus, Scleroderma, and Tuber. There were pronounced differences in ECM fungal community structure among the 15 montados stands: C. geophilum was the only species common to all stands, tomentelloid and russuloid species were detected in 87-93% of the stands, Cortinariaceae was detected in 60% of the stands, and the other groups were more unequally distributed. Ordination analysis revealed that ECM fungal richness was positively correlated with the silvo-pastoral exploitation regime and low mortality of cork oak, while ECM fungal abundance was positively correlated with extensive agro-silvo-pastoral exploitation under a traditional 9-year rotation cultivation system and recent soil tillage. The effects of land use on the ECM fungal community and its implications in different scenarios of landscape management options, oak mortality, and global warming are discussed.