biostudies-literatureUtge Perri SYConsejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y TécnicasFONTAGROAgencia Nacional de Promoción de la Investigación, el Desarrollo Tecnológico y la InnovaciónUniversity of Buenos Aires580https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC11859955biostudies-literatureUnknown14(4)Mining activities cause strong soil alterations, such as heavy metal (HM) pollution, which decreases the diversity of plant communities and rhizospheric microorganisms, including arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi. The polymetallic Paramillos de Uspallata mine in the Andes Mountains, the first mining exploitation in Argentina, provides a unique scenario to study AM fungal resilience after long-term disturbance following over 40 years of inactivity. This study aimed to analyze mycorrhizal status and AM fungal communities in the mine and a nearby unexploited area and to evaluate their associations with soil parameters to elucidate life history strategies. Long-term exposure to elevated Fe, Pb, Zn, and Ag concentrations and high electrical conductivity (EC, 5.46 mS/cm) led to the dominance of Plants (Basel, Switzerland)Responses of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi and Plant Communities to Long-Term Mining and Passive Restoration.PMC11859955PIP 11220200102192COUBACYT 20020170100142BAPICT 2015-3474ATN RF-18951-RGGodeas AMGonzalez FValenzuela LScotti AValerga Fernandez MVUtge Perri SYColombo RPSilvani VAfalseResponses of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi and Plant Communities to Long-Term Mining and Passive Restoration.Mining activities cause strong soil alterations, such as heavy metal (HM) pollution, which decreases the diversity of plant communities and rhizospheric microorganisms, including arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi. The polymetallic Paramillos de Uspallata mine in the Andes Mountains, the first mining exploitation in Argentina, provides a unique scenario to study AM fungal resilience after long-term disturbance following over 40 years of inactivity. This study aimed to analyze mycorrhizal status and AM fungal communities in the mine and a nearby unexploited area and to evaluate their associations with soil parameters to elucidate life history strategies. Long-term exposure to elevated Fe, Pb, Zn, and Ag concentrations and high electrical conductivity (EC, 5.46 mS/cm) led to the dominance of 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z2025 Feb2025-04-03T23:44:14.883Z2025-04-03T23:44:14.883ZS-EPMC118599554000684110.3390/plants14040580