Freshwater　input　for　salt　marsh　restoration　in　the　Yellow　River　Delta　induced　Phragmites　australis　expansion　and　thus　may　cause　shifts　of　soil　fungi　from　halophilic　to　desalination-adapted　species　for　increased　litter　decomposition.　In　this　study,　soil　fungal　communities　of　restored　and　natural　salt　marshes　were　determined　to　reveal　further　details　of　shift　in　soil　fungal　community　and　its　probable　prediction　for　salt　marsh　restoration.　Our　results　showed　a　stronger　network　within　Ascomycota　(e.g.　Sordariales,　Aspergillus,　llypocreales　and　Cladosporium　herbarum)　in　restored　marshes,　but　with　a　lower　diversity　of　halophilic　taxa　(e.g.　Chyttidiomycota　and　Nematoda)　in　comparison　with　natural　salt　marshes.　Contrarily,　the　occurrence　of　Chytridiomycota,　lchthyosporea　and　Discicristoidea　in　the　soil　fungal　networks　of　the　natural　salt　marsh　emphasized　the　importance　of　salt　tolerant　species　at　the　land-sea　transition　zone.　The　Sordariales　was　dominant　and　had　a　strong　correlation　with　other　fungal　species　and　aggregate　associated　soil　organic　carbon　(SOC),　which　probably　contributed　to　SOC　accumulation　in　restored　marshes.　But　the　reduced　halophilic　species　specific　to　salt　marsh　elucidated　that　the　formation　of　monospecific　stands　of　P.　australis　along　with　the　freshwater　input　induced　desalination　to　the　saline　habitats　changed　the　native　patterns　of　vegetation　and　soil　organisms.　As　the　buffer　between　terrestrial　and　marine　systems,　a　single　habitat　type　such　as　dense　monocultures　of　P.　australis　must　be　avoided　and　diverse　saltmarsh　habitats　across　a　salinity　gradient　should　be　reserved.　In　this　way,　the　diversity　and　specificity　of　coastal　halophytes　and　related　microorganisms　could　be　maintained　and　thus　might　confer　benefits　in　balancing　various　functions　of　the　salt　marsh　ecosystem　and　preserving　the　system＇s　elasticity　and　resistance　to　stress.　(C)　2020　Elsevier　B.V.　All　rights　reserved.