# Preliminary Assessment of Mycobiome at Former Quarry Site That Hosts a Diverse and Abundant Orchid Population

## TL;DR

This study explores how former quarries can support orchid growth by examining the fungal communities in the soil.

## Contribution

The study identifies key fungal networks in restored quarries that support orchid colonization and suggests their potential for biodiversity restoration.

## Key findings

- Orchid abundance strongly correlates with fungal diversity, including mycorrhizal families like Sebacinaceae and Thelephoraceae.
- The gorge-based site had the highest orchid density and richest fungal assemblage.
- Denser orchid populations support richer fungal communities, indicating mutual benefits.

## Abstract

Former quarries offer unique opportunities for biodiversity restoration, yet their potential for orchid meadow creation remains underexplored. This study screened soils to study whether these habitats harbour key orchid-compatible fungi essential for orchid colonisation. We conducted comparative analyses of fungal community composition across restored quarry sites using alpha and beta diversity metrics, NMDS ordinations, and regression models linking orchid abundance with fungal diversity. Using soil metabarcoding across four restored sites, the results showed that orchid abundance strongly correlated with fungal diversity, including mycorrhizal families such as Sebacinaceae and Thelephoraceae. The gorge-based site supported the highest orchid density and richest fungal assemblage. These findings demonstrate that former quarries can sustain the fungal networks required for orchid recruitment, providing a foundation for large-scale restoration strategies. Association analysis revealed that orchid abundance, though on a limited scale, is a strong predictor of fungal diversity, indicating that denser orchid populations support richer fungal communities. Despite its limited scale, this study demonstrates that former quarries can provide both the physical conditions and the fungal networks necessary for orchid establishment, offering a practical model for restoring orchid-rich meadows and enhancing biodiversity in former quarries.