Juniperus virginiana encroachment into upland oak forests alters arbuscular mycorrhizal abundance and litter chemistry

► Eastern redcedar encroachment of oak forests reduced litter N and C. ► Microbial phospholipid composition differed between oak and eastern redcedar plots. ► Eastern redcedar encroachment of oak forest increased AM fungi. ► Eastern redcedar-associated AM fungi may benefit encroachment over oak EM fungi.