Identification of Fungal Dynamics Associated With Black Locust Leaves Mineralization and Their Correlations With Physicochemical Factors

Abstract

In this study, the fungal dynamics associated with black locust (BL) mineralization and its correlation with various environmental factors were evaluated across three different vegetation types along a gradient of temperature and humidity. The results confirmed that Ascomycota and Basidiomycota were the dominant phyla in each habitat, with average relative abundance of 86.57 and 11.42%, respectively. But both phylum abundance varied significantly among different BL leaves’ decomposing habitats. Black locust changed the most significantly in the forest habitat and the least in the steppe. In addition, the litter characteristics of BL decreased with total carbon and total nitrogen mineralization and underground water level in water-rich region, while this result was significantly consistent with the fungal diversity. Co-occurrence network studies revealed that significant correlations were found between fungal community composition and environmental factors, the decrease of underground water level influence the fungal structure in forest habitat. Finally, the present study results provide important insights about the biological invasion of new ecosystems.