Background:

Coastal dune scrub vegetation is established on a substrate that favors biodiversity, but this is currently restricted to small patches.

Objective:

To determine the status of the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) in this vegetation under different anthropogenic pressures and to propose actions addressing its conservation and restoration.

Methods:

Plant and fungal community was characterized through taxonomic identification of the AMF and determination of their percentage of viability, number of infective propagules (NIP) and percentage of mycorrhizal colonization. Three contrasting sites were identified in the Ría Lagartos Biosphere Reserve: C = Conserved, IPS = Intermediate perturbation by the salt industry and HPA = high perturbation of anthropogenic origin. In each site, fine roots were collected from 12 common species and compound soil samples were taken.

Results and conclusions:

Eight AMF species were identified, in IPS, the highest values were presented in terms of percentage of colonization 55.43 ± 6.5, NIP = 142.07 ± 91.2 and viability = 27.6 ± 15.21 % while, in HPA, a higher number of healthy spores were found 43.6 ± 11.5/50 g. Infective propagules are an indicator of a “healthy ecosystem” and were found at a higher proportion in the conserved site.