Neotropical Seasonally Dry Forests: Response of Soil Fungal Communities to Anthropogenic Actions

Abstract

The aim of this review was to analyze the information available on soil fungal community of Neotropical Seasonally dry forests, with special attention given to the Chaco area. This review is focused on the loss of soil fungal community due to anthropogenic actions such as forest clearing. Over the last decades, the expansion of the agricultural frontier has had a wide range of physical, chemical and biological effects on Neotropical dry forests. As these changes on the Schinopsis dry forests (Chaco) have rendered the ecosystem vulnerable, these areas have become some of the few protected areas in South America. After analyzing both national and international studies to find the latest research available on the topic we have noticed there is lack of specific studies on soil fungal community in the Chaco area, unlike Cerrado and Caatinga where most studies have been carried out. Therefore, we propose to conduct more in-depth studies on soil fungi in Schinopsis forests to revalue the Chaco fungal community to use them as potential indicators of soil health and to develop new management techniques.