Fungal:Bacterial Ratio

AUS-TGP-CON-SFB General Moderate confidence

Benchmark Value

No specific value — see range
Range: 1.5 to 5 index
Optimal Range: 1.5 to 5
Direction: Higher is desirable ↑
Form: OptimalRange

Scoring Curve

This curve shows how a field measurement for this indicator would score across all available benchmark forms in this context. The scoring engine uses 7 benchmarks together — the OptimalRange form drives the primary score, while 6 guard(s) constrain the result.

Contributing Benchmarks

OptimalRange Primary Point Guard LowerThreshold Guard OptimalRange Guard LowerThreshold Guard MinimumOnly Guard MaximumOnly Guard

Evidence & Context

An optimal range of 1.5 to 5.0 is proposed.

Metric Definition:

Optimal functional range of Fungal:Bacterial Ratio for high-functioning conservation sites.

Benchmark Definition:

This benchmark represents the optimal functional range of fungal to bacterial biomass ratio indicating a mature, resilient, and highly functional grassy or open woodland soil ecosystem in Australian Temperate Grassy Woodlands.

Justification:

This range provides a buffer above the critical degradation threshold and reflects peak microbial functionality before environmental stressors limit the ratio.

Sources (1)

Preview of The incorporation of fungal to bacterial ratios and plant ecosystem effect traits into a state-and-transition model of land-use change in semi-arid grasslands - Research @ Flinders, accessed August 3, 2025
The incorporation of fungal to bacterial ratios and plant ecosystem effect traits into a state-and-transition model of land-use change in semi-arid grasslands - Research @ Flinders, accessed August 3, 2025 Journal

The incorporation of fungal to bacterial ratios and plant ecosystem effect traits into a state-and-transition model of land-use change in semi-arid grasslands - Research @ Flinders

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Supporting Sources (3)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Preview of (PDF) The measurement of soil fungal:bacterial biomass ratios as an ..., accessed July 19, 2025,
(PDF) The measurement of soil fungal:bacterial biomass ratios as an ..., accessed July 19, 2025,
Direct Evidence Journal

Soil microbial community composition under Eucalyptus plantations of different age in subtropical China - ResearchGate, accessed July 23, 2025

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Preview of Different responses of soil fungal and bacterial communities to nitrogen addition in a forest grassland ecotone - Frontiers
Different responses of soil fungal and bacterial communities to nitrogen addition in a forest grassland ecotone - Frontiers
Contextual Support Journal

Different responses of soil fungal and bacterial communities to nitrogen addition in a forest grassland ecotone - Frontiers

View Source
Preview of Restoring Australia's temperate grasslands and grassy woodlands | Request PDF - ResearchGate, accessed August 12, 2025,
Restoring Australia's temperate grasslands and grassy woodlands | Request PDF - ResearchGate, accessed August 12, 2025,
Contextual Support

Restoring Australia's temperate grasslands and grassy woodlands | Request PDF - ResearchGate, accessed May 19, 2025,

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Context

  • Region Australia
  • Biome Temperate Grassy Woodlands & Plains
  • Land Use Conservation / Protected Natural Areas
  • Assessment Conservation Target
  • Evidence Type HealthyOperationalRange

Lifecycle

  • Status Active
  • Version 1
  • Effective From 23 Mar 2026

Notes

Values within this range indicate stable carbon cycling, good soil aggregation, and support for diverse native flora. No upper detrimental threshold — higher values are always better up to natural saturation.

Related Benchmarks

Other benchmarks in the AUS-TGP-CON-SFB family.

2 index Moderate
Conservation / Protected Natural Areas · Conservation Target
Point Active v1
1 index Moderate
Conservation / Protected Natural Areas · Conservation Target
LowerThreshold Active v1