Fig. 5: Conceptual overview of the three-dimensional fungal economics space and its significance in an environmental context.

a The fungal economics space based on the fungal isolates tested here, with characteristics of the dense-fast spectrum displayed. Dots visualize the position of fungal isolates in the three-dimensional PCA (principal component analysis) space. Drawings show deduced mycelial structures (and spore production) at the extremes of the continuum. b Illustration of the proposed mechanism of functional resilience due to the orthogonal nature of main functional trait axes and their correlation to ecological strategies relevant in soil. Dots indicate a hypothetical modeled community within boundaries of the fungal economics space and the abundances of individual species/isolates in response to a moderate anthropogenic stressor (dot sizes correspond to abundances, red colors indicate negative responses to stressors). Notably, there is no shift in abundances along the second and third axis, which are independent of stress responses. Predicted responses in soil processes are indicated by arrows (round symbols = lack of response). SOC soil organic carbon, CUE carbon-use efficiency.