Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in the Espinal Ecoregion, gaps and opportunities

Abstract

In the last 50 years, the Espinal has suffered a significant reduction in the original area occupied by forests. So much so that much of the natural vegetation that existed in the provinces of Entre Ríos, Santa Fé, Córdoba, and Buenos Aires has disap¬peared. In provinces such as San Luis and La Pampa, there are still important relics of this Ecoregion; however, the management of these ecosystems is not always adequate, since they are found on private properties that are not always properly advised, so it is necessary to review them. The management of forest eco¬systems is important in their conservation because not only deforestation but also most forms of within-forest degradation (such as wildfires and selective logging) can have pronounced impacts on biodiversity in general. Recent research shows that soil biodiversity and related ecosystem processes may be lost after even very-low, reduced impact logging intensities. Considering that AMF are key microorganisms in maintaining the health of plant species, especially in arid or semiarid ecosystems, and the study of the composition and dynamics of AMF communities in forests that have suffered a considerable reduc¬tion in the area they occupied, it is necessary to develop adequate reforestation plans, with the main objective of recovering forest ecosystems.