Fungal:Bacterial Ratio

AUS-TSW-CON-SFB General Moderate confidence

Benchmark Value

1 index
Direction: Higher is desirable ↑
Form: MinimumOnly

Scoring Curve

This curve shows how a field measurement for this indicator would score across all available benchmark forms in this context.

Evidence & Context

An F:B ratio consistently below 1.0 serves as a robust indicator of a highly disturbed or degraded system.

Metric Definition:

Fungal to bacterial biomass ratio in soil as measured by Phospholipid Fatty Acid (PLFA) analysis.

Benchmark Definition:

This benchmark represents the maximum fungal to bacterial biomass ratio below which the ecosystem is considered degraded due to bacterial dominance in Australia's Temperate Semi-Arid Shrublands & Open Woodlands conservation areas.

Justification:

Supported by multiple studies linking F:B ratios below 1.0 to disturbed, bacterially dominated systems with compromised soil functions.

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

View Source

Supporting Sources (1)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Preview of ausveg - fact sheet: soil microbiology, accessed July 18, 2025
ausveg - fact sheet: soil microbiology, accessed July 18, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

ausveg - fact sheet: soil microbiology

View Source

Context

  • Region Australia
  • Biome Temperate Semi-Arid Shrublands & Open Woodlands
  • Land Use Conservation / Protected Natural Areas
  • Assessment Conservation Target
  • Evidence Type DegradationThreshold

Lifecycle

  • Status Active
  • Version 1
  • Effective From 8 Jun 2026

Notes

Indicates a degraded state characteristic of intensive conventional agriculture and loss of key ecological functions.

Related Benchmarks

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

3 index Moderate
Conservation / Protected Natural Areas ยท Conservation Target
MinimumOnly Active v1