Author Identifier
Aaron J. Brace: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9552-5800
Anna J.M. Hopkins: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8090-5544
Document Type
Journal Article
Publication Title
Australian Journal of Botany
Volume
73
Issue
4
Publisher
CSIRO
School
School of Science / Centre for People, Place and Planet
RAS ID
82143
Funders
Australian Research Council Linkage / Botanical Gardens and Parks Authority / Department of Parks and Wildlife / Edith Cowan University
Grant Number
ARC Number : LP160100996
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.
DOI
10.1071/BT24083
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License.
Comments
Brace, A. J., Ruthrof, K. X., Fontaine, J. B., Miller, B. P., & Hopkins, A. J. M. (2025). How soil fungal communities respond to invasive plant species treatments in soil from Banksia woodland, south-western Australia. Australian Journal of Botany, 73(4). https://doi.org/10.1071/BT24083