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Wang Y, Xiao B, Wang W, Kidron GJ. Interactions between biocrusts and herbaceous communities are divergent in dry and wet semiarid ecosystems. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 941:173759. [PMID: 38844240 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.173759] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2024] [Revised: 05/30/2024] [Accepted: 06/02/2024] [Indexed: 06/10/2024]
Abstract
Biocrusts are a prevalent form of living cover in worldwide drylands, and their presence are intimately associated with herbaceous community, forming a spatially mosaic distribution pattern in dryland ecosystems. The role of biocrusts as modulators of herbaceous community assembly is extensively studied, whereas, less is known whether their interactions are permanent or changeable with various environmental conditions. This study conducted a field survey of herbaceous community accompanied by three types of biocrusts (cyanobacterial, cyanobacterial-moss mixed, and moss crusts) in two contrasting (dry and wet) semiarid climate regions in the Chinese Loess Plateau, to explore whether or not climatic aridity gradient affects the interactions between biocrusts and herbaceous community. Our results showed that in dry semiarid climate, the biomass, species richness, and diversity of herbaceous community from biocrust plots were 89 %, 179 %, and 52 % higher than that from the uncrusted plots, respectively, while in wet semiarid climate, those herbaceous community indices from biocrust plots were 68 %, 43 %, and 23 % lower than that from the uncrusted plots, respectively. The impacts of biocrusts on herbaceous community were highly dependent on the types and coverage of biocrusts. Regardless of aridity gradient, the richness and diversity of herbaceous community were the lowest in the moss-covered plots, followed by the cyanobacteria-covered plots and the plots with a mixed cyanobacteria and moss population. Along with increasing biocrust coverage, the species richness and diversity of herbaceous plants initially increased and then decreased in dry semiarid climate, while in wet semiarid climate they decreased linearly with biocrust coverage. Structural equation modeling revealed that the factors of biocrust types and coverage affected herbaceous community indirectly through soil properties in dry semiarid climate, whereas in wet semiarid climate they directly affected herbaceous community through biotic interactions. Together, our findings indicated that cyanobacterial and moss biocrusts facilitate the development of herbaceous community in dry semiarid climate by increasing soil stability and nutrient levels, but in wet semiarid climate they restrict herbaceous plant growth through competing niche space. These results highlight the divergent relationships between biocrusts and herbaceous community across aridity gradient in dryland ecosystems, and this knowledge may be critically important in light of the projected global climate change which is going to change the aridity of global drylands.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanfeng Wang
- Key Laboratory of Desert and Desertification, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, China; State Key Laboratory of Soil Erosion and Dryland Farming on the Loess Plateau, Institute of Soil and Water Conservation, Chinese Academy of Sciences and Ministry of Water Resources, Yangling 712100, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Bo Xiao
- Key Laboratory of Arable Land Conservation in North China, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Land Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China; State Key Laboratory of Soil Erosion and Dryland Farming on the Loess Plateau, Institute of Soil and Water Conservation, Chinese Academy of Sciences and Ministry of Water Resources, Yangling 712100, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China.
| | - Wanfu Wang
- Key Laboratory of Desert and Desertification, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Giora J Kidron
- Institute of Earth Sciences, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Givat Ram Campus, Jerusalem 91904, Israel
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Power SN, Thomas VA, Salvatore MR, Barrett JE. Habitat suitability of biocrust communities in a cold desert ecosystem. Ecol Evol 2024; 14:e11649. [PMID: 38952663 PMCID: PMC11213821 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.11649] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2024] [Revised: 05/23/2024] [Accepted: 06/14/2024] [Indexed: 07/03/2024] Open
Abstract
Drylands are unique among terrestrial ecosystems in that they have a significant proportion of primary production facilitated by non-vascular plants such as colonial cyanobacteria, moss, and lichens, i.e., biocrusts, which occur on and in the surface soil. Biocrusts inhabit all continents, including Antarctica, an increasingly dynamic continent on the precipice of change. Here, we describe in-situ field surveying and sampling, remote sensing, and modeling approaches to assess the habitat suitability of biocrusts in the Lake Fryxell basin of Taylor Valley, Antarctica, which is the main site of the McMurdo Dry Valleys Long-Term Ecological Research Program. Soils suitable for the development of biocrusts are typically wetter, less alkaline, and less saline compared to unvegetated soils. Using random forest models, we show that gravimetric water content, electrical conductivity, and snow frequency are the top predictors of biocrust presence and biomass. Areas most suitable for the growth of dense biocrusts are soils associated with seasonal snow patches. Using geospatial data to extrapolate our habitat suitability model to the whole basin predicts that biocrusts are present in 2.7 × 105 m2 and contain 11-72 Mg of aboveground carbon, based on the 90% probability of occurrence. Our study illustrates the synergistic effect of combining field and remote sensing data for understanding the distribution and biomass of biocrusts, a foundational community in the carbon balance of this region. Extreme weather events and changing climate conditions in this region, especially those influencing snow accumulation and persistence, could have significant effects on the future distribution and abundance of biocrusts and therefore soil organic carbon storage in the McMurdo Dry Valleys.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah N. Power
- Department of Biological SciencesVirginia Polytechnic Institute and State UniversityBlacksburgVirginiaUSA
| | - Valerie A. Thomas
- Department of Forest Resources and Environmental ConservationVirginia Polytechnic Institute and State UniversityBlacksburgVirginiaUSA
| | - Mark R. Salvatore
- Department of Astronomy & Planetary ScienceNorthern Arizona UniversityFlagstaffArizonaUSA
| | - John E. Barrett
- Department of Biological SciencesVirginia Polytechnic Institute and State UniversityBlacksburgVirginiaUSA
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Wang Y, Xiao B, Wang W, Saéz-Sandino T, Delgado-Baquerizo M. Cyanobacterial and moss biocrusts shape soil nematode community in dryland mountain ecosystems with increasing aridity. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 931:172750. [PMID: 38677426 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.172750] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2024] [Revised: 04/22/2024] [Accepted: 04/23/2024] [Indexed: 04/29/2024]
Abstract
Soil nematodes are the most abundant animals on Earth and play critical roles in regulating numerous ecosystem processes, from enhancing primary productivity to mineralizing multiple nutrients. In dryland soils, a rich community of microphyte organisms (biocrusts) provide critical habitats for soil nematodes, but their presence is being threatened by increasing aridity induced by global climate change. Despite its importance, how types of biocrusts and aridity index influence soil nematode community in dryland mountain ecosystems remains largely unknown. To fill these knowledge gaps, we conducted a field survey with contrasting aridity indexes (0.2, 0.4, and 0.6) and three types of biocrusts (cyanobacterial, cyanobacterial-moss mixed, and moss crusts) in the topsoil (0-5 cm) from the northern Chinese Loess Plateau. We found that the abundance (number of individuals per gram of soil), richness (number of Operational Taxonomic Units; OTUs), and diversity (number of different species) of soil nematodes were remarkably higher under biocrusts than in bare soils, regardless of aridity index and types of biocrusts. Our results also showed that the same variables had the highest values in moss crusts compared to cyanobacterial and cyanobacterial-moss mixed crusts. Structural equation modelling further revealed that biocrust types and traits (i.e., biocrust thickness, chlorophyll content, shear force, and penetration resistance) are the most important factors associated with both nematode abundance and richness. Together, our findings indicate that biocrusts, especially moss cover, and less stressful aridity conditions favor soil nematodes community in dryland mountain regions. Such knowledge is critical for anticipating the distribution of these animals under climate change scenarios and, ultimately, the numerous ecosystem services supported by soil nematodes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanfeng Wang
- Key Laboratory of Desert and Desertification, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, China; State Key Laboratory of Soil Erosion and Dryland Farming on the Loess Plateau, Institute of Soil and Water Conservation, Chinese Academy of Sciences and Ministry of Water Resources, Yangling 712100, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Bo Xiao
- Key Laboratory of Arable Land Conservation in North China, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs/College of Land Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China; State Key Laboratory of Soil Erosion and Dryland Farming on the Loess Plateau, Institute of Soil and Water Conservation, Chinese Academy of Sciences and Ministry of Water Resources, Yangling 712100, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China.
| | - Wanfu Wang
- Key Laboratory of Desert and Desertification, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Tadeo Saéz-Sandino
- Departamento de Sistemas Físicos, Químicos y Naturales, Universidad Pablo de Olavide, Sevilla 41013, Spain
| | - Manuel Delgado-Baquerizo
- Laboratorio de Biodiversidad y Funcionamiento Ecosistémico, Instituto de Recursos Naturales y Agrobiología de Sevilla (IRNAS), CSIC, Seville E-41012, Spain
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Sun X, Kong T, Huang D, Chen Z, Zhang Y, Häggblom MM, Soleimani M, Liu H, Ren Y, Wang Y, Huang Y, Li B, Sun W. Microbial Sulfur and Arsenic Oxidation Facilitate the Establishment of Biocrusts during Reclamation of Degraded Mine Tailings. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2024. [PMID: 38900020 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.3c10945] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/21/2024]
Abstract
Degraded tailings generated by the mining of metal ores are major environmental threats to the surrounding ecosystems. Tailing reclamation, however, is often impeded due to adverse environmental conditions, with depleted key nutrients (i.e., nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P)) and elevated sulfur and metal(loid) concentrations. Formation of biocrusts may significantly accelerate nutrient accumulation and is therefore an essential stage for tailing reclamation. Although suggested to play an important role, the microbial community composition and key metabolisms in biocrusts remain largely unknown and are therefore investigated in the current study. The results suggested that sulfur and arsenic oxidation are potential energy sources utilized by members of predominant biocrust bacterial families, including Beijerinckiaceae, Burkholderiaceae, Hyphomicrobiaceae, and Rhizobiaceae. Accordingly, the S and As oxidation potentials are elevated in biocrusts compared to those in their adjacent tailings. Biocrust growth, as proxied by chlorophyll concentrations, is enhanced in treatments supplemented with S and As. The elevated biocrust growth might benefit from nutrient acquisition services (i.e., nitrogen fixation and phosphorus solubilization) fueled by microbial sulfur and arsenic oxidation. The current study suggests that sulfur- and arsenic-oxidizing microorganisms may play important ecological roles in promoting biocrust formation and facilitating tailing reclamation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoxu Sun
- National-Regional Joint Engineering Research Center for Soil Pollution Control and Remediation in South China, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Integrated Agro-environmental Pollution Control and Management, Institute of Eco-environmental and Soil Sciences, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510650, China
- Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Joint Laboratory for Environmental Pollution and Control,Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510640, China
| | - Tianle Kong
- National-Regional Joint Engineering Research Center for Soil Pollution Control and Remediation in South China, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Integrated Agro-environmental Pollution Control and Management, Institute of Eco-environmental and Soil Sciences, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510650, China
- Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Joint Laboratory for Environmental Pollution and Control,Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510640, China
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Donghua University, Shanghai 201620, China
| | - Duanyi Huang
- National-Regional Joint Engineering Research Center for Soil Pollution Control and Remediation in South China, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Integrated Agro-environmental Pollution Control and Management, Institute of Eco-environmental and Soil Sciences, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510650, China
- Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Joint Laboratory for Environmental Pollution and Control,Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510640, China
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha 410082, China
| | - Zhenyu Chen
- National-Regional Joint Engineering Research Center for Soil Pollution Control and Remediation in South China, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Integrated Agro-environmental Pollution Control and Management, Institute of Eco-environmental and Soil Sciences, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510650, China
- Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Joint Laboratory for Environmental Pollution and Control,Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510640, China
- School of Environment, Key Laboratory of Yellow River and Huai River Water Environment and Pollution Control, Ministry of Education, Henan Normal University, Xinxiang 453007, China
| | - Yuxue Zhang
- National-Regional Joint Engineering Research Center for Soil Pollution Control and Remediation in South China, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Integrated Agro-environmental Pollution Control and Management, Institute of Eco-environmental and Soil Sciences, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510650, China
- Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Joint Laboratory for Environmental Pollution and Control,Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510640, China
| | - Max M Häggblom
- Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, New Jersey 08901, United States
| | - Mohsen Soleimani
- Department of Natural Resources, Isfahan University of Technology, Isfahan 84156-83111, Iran
| | - Huaqing Liu
- National-Regional Joint Engineering Research Center for Soil Pollution Control and Remediation in South China, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Integrated Agro-environmental Pollution Control and Management, Institute of Eco-environmental and Soil Sciences, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510650, China
- Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Joint Laboratory for Environmental Pollution and Control,Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510640, China
| | - Youhua Ren
- National-Regional Joint Engineering Research Center for Soil Pollution Control and Remediation in South China, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Integrated Agro-environmental Pollution Control and Management, Institute of Eco-environmental and Soil Sciences, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510650, China
- Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Joint Laboratory for Environmental Pollution and Control,Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510640, China
- College of Food Science and Technology, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha 410128, China
| | - Yize Wang
- National-Regional Joint Engineering Research Center for Soil Pollution Control and Remediation in South China, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Integrated Agro-environmental Pollution Control and Management, Institute of Eco-environmental and Soil Sciences, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510650, China
- Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Joint Laboratory for Environmental Pollution and Control,Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510640, China
| | - Ying Huang
- National-Regional Joint Engineering Research Center for Soil Pollution Control and Remediation in South China, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Integrated Agro-environmental Pollution Control and Management, Institute of Eco-environmental and Soil Sciences, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510650, China
- Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Joint Laboratory for Environmental Pollution and Control,Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510640, China
| | - Baoqin Li
- National-Regional Joint Engineering Research Center for Soil Pollution Control and Remediation in South China, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Integrated Agro-environmental Pollution Control and Management, Institute of Eco-environmental and Soil Sciences, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510650, China
- Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Joint Laboratory for Environmental Pollution and Control,Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510640, China
| | - Weimin Sun
- National-Regional Joint Engineering Research Center for Soil Pollution Control and Remediation in South China, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Integrated Agro-environmental Pollution Control and Management, Institute of Eco-environmental and Soil Sciences, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510650, China
- Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Joint Laboratory for Environmental Pollution and Control,Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510640, China
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Pagli C, Chamizo S, Migliore G, Rugnini L, De Giudici G, Braglia R, Canini A, Cantón Y. Isolation of biocrust cyanobacteria and evaluation of Cu, Pb, and Zn immobilisation potential for soil restoration and sustainable agriculture. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 946:174020. [PMID: 38897475 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.174020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2024] [Revised: 04/30/2024] [Accepted: 06/13/2024] [Indexed: 06/21/2024]
Abstract
Soil contamination by heavy metals represents an important environmental and public health problem of global concern. Biocrust-forming cyanobacteria offer promise for heavy metal immobilisation in contaminated soils due to their unique characteristics, including their ability to grow in contaminated soils and produce exopolysaccharides (EPS). However, limited research has analysed the representativeness of cyanobacteria in metal-contaminated soils. Additionally, there is a lack of studies examining how cyanobacteria adaptation to specific environments can impact their metal-binding capacity. To address this research gap, we conducted a study analysing the bacterial communities of cyanobacteria-dominated biocrusts in a contaminated area from South Sardinia (Italy). Additionally, by using two distinct approaches, we isolated three Nostoc commune strains from cyanobacteria-dominated biocrust and we also evaluated their potential to immobilise heavy metals. The first isolation method involved acclimatizing biocrust samples in liquid medium while, in the second method, biocrust samples were directly seeded onto agar plates. The microbial community analysis revealed Cyanobacteria, Bacteroidota, Proteobacteria, and Actinobacteria as the predominant groups, with cyanobacteria representing between 13.3 % and 26.0 % of the total community. Despite belonging to the same species, these strains exhibited different growth rates (1.1-2.2 g L-1 of biomass) and capacities for EPS production (400-1786 mg L-1). The three strains demonstrated a notable ability for metal immobilisation, removing up to 88.9 % of Cu, 86.2 % of Pb, and 45.3 % of Zn from liquid medium. Cyanobacteria EPS production showed a strong correlation with the removal of Cu, indicating its role in facilitating metal immobilisation. Furthermore, differences in Pb immobilisation (40-86.2 %) suggest possible environmental adaptation mechanisms of the strains. This study highlights the promising application of N. commune strains for metal immobilisation in soils, offering a potential bioremediation tool to combat the adverse effects of soil contamination and promote environmental sustainability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlotta Pagli
- Department of Biology, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Italy; Department of Agronomy, University of Almería, Spain; PhD Program in Evolutionary Biology and Ecology, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Italy.
| | - Sonia Chamizo
- Department of Agronomy, University of Almería, Spain; Department of Desertification and Geo-Ecology, Experimental Station of Arid Zones (EEZA-CSIC), Almería, Spain
| | - Giada Migliore
- ENEA, Territorial and Production Systems Sustainability Department, Italy
| | - Lorenza Rugnini
- Department of Biology, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Italy
| | - Giovanni De Giudici
- Department of Chemical and Geological Sciences, University of Cagliari, Italy
| | - Roberto Braglia
- Department of Biology, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Italy
| | | | - Yolanda Cantón
- Department of Agronomy, University of Almería, Spain; Center for Research on Scientific Collections of the University of Almeria (CECOUAL), Spain
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Dal-Ferro LS, Schenider A, Missiaggia DG, Silva LJ, Maciel-Silva AS, Figueredo CC. Organizing a global list of cyanobacteria and algae from soil biocrusts evidenced great geographic and taxonomic gaps. FEMS Microbiol Ecol 2024; 100:fiae086. [PMID: 38816216 PMCID: PMC11221558 DOI: 10.1093/femsec/fiae086] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2023] [Revised: 02/12/2024] [Accepted: 05/29/2024] [Indexed: 06/01/2024] Open
Abstract
Biocrusts determine soil stability and resiliency, with a special role played by oxygenic photoautotrophic microorganisms in these communities. We evaluated temporal and geographic trends in studies focused on these microorganisms in biocrusts. Two databases were surveyed to obtain scientific articles published from 1998 to 2020 containing the terms 'biocrusts,' 'algae,' and 'cyanobacteria.' Although interest in biocrusts has increased recently, their ecological importance is still little explored. The scientific articles that mentioned a species list of cyanobacteria and/or algae revealed a very heterogeneous geographic distribution of research. Biocrusts have not been explored in many regions and knowledge in the tropics, where these communities showed high species richness, is limited. Geographic gaps were detected and more detailed studies are needed, mainly where biocrust communities are threatened by anthropogenic impacts. Aiming to address these knowledge gaps, we assembled a taxonomic list of all algae and cyanobacteria found in these articles, including information on their occurrence and ecology. This review is an updated global taxonomic survey of biocrusts, which importantly reveals their high species richness of oxygenic photoautotrophic microorganisms. We believe this database will be useful to future research by providing valuable taxonomic and biogeographic information regarding algae and cyanobacteria in biocrusts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luana Soares Dal-Ferro
- Departamento de Botânica, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, P.O. Box 486, 31270-901 Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Arthur Schenider
- Departamento de Botânica, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, P.O. Box 486, 31270-901 Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Dabny Goulart Missiaggia
- Departamento de Botânica, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, P.O. Box 486, 31270-901 Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Libério Junio Silva
- Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas Espaciais, Divisão de Observação da Terra e Geoinformática (DIOTG), 12227-010 São José dos Campos, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Adaíses Simone Maciel-Silva
- Departamento de Botânica, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, P.O. Box 486, 31270-901 Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Cleber Cunha Figueredo
- Departamento de Botânica, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, P.O. Box 486, 31270-901 Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
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Lai Z, Liu Z, Zhao Y, Qin S, Zhang W, Lang T, Zhu Z, Sun Y. Distinct microbial communities under different rock-associated microhabitats in the Qaidam Desert. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2024; 250:118462. [PMID: 38367835 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2024.118462] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2023] [Revised: 02/03/2024] [Accepted: 02/09/2024] [Indexed: 02/19/2024]
Abstract
Hypolithic communities, which occupy highly specialised microhabitats beneath translucent rocks in desert and arid environments, have assembly mechanisms and ecosystem functions are not fully understood. Thus, in this study, we aimed to examine the microbial community structure, assembly, and function of light-accessible (under quartz, calcite, and hypolithic lichen-dominated biocrusts) and light-inaccessible microhabitats (under basalt and adjacent soil) in the Qaidam Desert, China. The results showed that hypolithic communities have different characteristics compared with microbial communities of light-inaccessible microhabitats. Notably, hypolithic bacterial communities were dominated by Cyanobacteria, whereas light-inaccessible microhabitats showed a predominance of Bacteroidetes and Proteobacteria. Although the class Dothideomycetes (phylum: Ascomycota) dominated the fungal communities between the two microhabitat types, Sordariomycetes were more prevalent in light-accessible microhabitats. Network and robustness analyses showed that hypolithic communities were less complex and more resilient than microbial communities in light-inaccessible microhabitats. Our results indicated that deterministic processes, specifically homogeneous selection, govern the establishment of bacterial and fungal communities in light-accessible and light-inaccessible microhabitats. The hypolithic community showed an increased frequency of phylotypes that exhibited increased tolerance to functional stress response pathways. In contrast to light-inaccessible microhabitats, light-accessible microhabitats showed a slight decrease and a notable increase in the prevalence of carbon fixation pathways in prokaryotes and carbon fixation in photosynthetic organisms, respectively. For fungi, light-accessible microhabitats enriched saprotrophic and ectomycorrhizal groups. These results highlight the importance of complex and diverse microhabitats in desert regions, which serve as vital shelters for microbes. Combining future research on interactions between hypolithic communities and environments may enhance our current understanding of their pivotal roles in sustaining desert ecosystems. This knowledge then be applied to design and implement informed conservation efforts to preserve these unique rock-associated microhabitats in desert ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zongrui Lai
- Yanchi Research Station, School of Soil and Water Conservation, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Zhen Liu
- CAS Engineering Laboratory for Yellow River Delta Modern Agriculture, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
| | - Yuanyuan Zhao
- Yanchi Research Station, School of Soil and Water Conservation, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Shugao Qin
- Yanchi Research Station, School of Soil and Water Conservation, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Wenqi Zhang
- Yanchi Research Station, School of Soil and Water Conservation, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Tao Lang
- MNR Key Laboratory for Geo-Environmental Monitoring of Great Bay Area & Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Marine Bio-resource and Eco-environmental Science, College of Life Sciences and Oceanography, Shenzhen University, 518060, Shenzhen, China; College of Agricultural and Food Engineering, Baise University, Baise, Guangxi 533000, China.
| | - Zhengjie Zhu
- College of Agricultural and Food Engineering, Baise University, Baise, Guangxi 533000, China
| | - Yanfei Sun
- Key Laboratory of Genetics and Germplasm Innovation of Tropical Special Forest Trees and Ornamental Plants, Ministry of Education, College of Forestry, Hainan University, Haikou, 570228, China.
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Liao K, Chen C, Ye W, Zhu J, Li Y, She S, Wang P, Tao Y, Lv A, Wang X, Chen L. The adaptability, distribution, ecological function and restoration application of biological soil crusts on metal tailings: A critical review. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 927:172169. [PMID: 38582126 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.172169] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2024] [Revised: 03/21/2024] [Accepted: 03/31/2024] [Indexed: 04/08/2024]
Abstract
A large amount of metal tailings causes many environmental issues. Thus, the techniques for their ecological restoration have garnered extensive attention. However, they are still in the exploratory stage. Biological soil crusts (BSCs) are a coherent layer comprising photoautotrophic organisms, heterotrophic organisms and soil particles. They are crucial in global terrestrial ecosystems and play an equal importance in metal tailings. We summarized the existing knowledge on BSCs growing on metal tailings. The main photosynthetic organisms (cyanobacteria, eukaryotic algae, lichens, and mosses) of BSCs exhibit a high heavy metal(loid) (HM) tolerance. BSCs also have a strong adaptability to other adverse conditions in tailings, such as poor structure, acidification, and infertility. The literature about tailing BSCs has been rapidly increasing, particularly after 2022. The extensive literature confirms that the BSCs distributed on metal tailings, including all major types of metal tailings in different climatic regisions, are common. BSCs perform various ecological functions in tailings, including HM stress reduction, soil structure improvement, soil nutrient increase, biogeochemical cycle enhancement, and microbial community restoration. They interact and accelerate revegetation of tailings (at least in the temperate zone) and soil formation. Restoring tailings by accelerating/inducing BSC formation (e.g., resource augmentation and inoculation) has also attracted attention and achieved small-scale on-site application. However, some knowledge gaps still exist. The potential areas for further research include the relation between BSCs and HMs, large-scale quantification of tailing BSCs, application of emerging biological techniques, controlled laboratory experiments, and other restoration applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kejun Liao
- Wuhan University School of Resource & Environmental Sciences, Wuhan, Hubei, PR China
| | - Chaoqi Chen
- Wuhan University School of Resource & Environmental Sciences, Wuhan, Hubei, PR China
| | - Wenyan Ye
- Lin'an Branch of Hangzhou Bureau of Planning and Natural Resources, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, PR China
| | - Jing Zhu
- Lin'an Branch of Hangzhou Bureau of Planning and Natural Resources, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, PR China
| | - Yan Li
- Wuhan University School of Resource & Environmental Sciences, Wuhan, Hubei, PR China
| | - Sijia She
- Wuhan University School of Resource & Environmental Sciences, Wuhan, Hubei, PR China
| | - Panpan Wang
- Wuhan University School of Resource & Environmental Sciences, Wuhan, Hubei, PR China
| | - Yue Tao
- Wuhan University School of Resource & Environmental Sciences, Wuhan, Hubei, PR China
| | - Ang Lv
- Wuhan University School of Resource & Environmental Sciences, Wuhan, Hubei, PR China
| | - Xinyue Wang
- Wuhan University School of Resource & Environmental Sciences, Wuhan, Hubei, PR China
| | - Lanzhou Chen
- Wuhan University School of Resource & Environmental Sciences, Wuhan, Hubei, PR China.
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9
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Mugnai G, Pinchuk I, Borruso L, Tiziani R, Sannino C, Canini F, Turchetti B, Mimmo T, Zucconi L, Buzzini P. The hidden network of biocrust successional stages in the High Arctic: Revealing abiotic and biotic factors shaping microbial and metazoan communities. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 926:171786. [PMID: 38508248 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.171786] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2024] [Revised: 03/05/2024] [Accepted: 03/15/2024] [Indexed: 03/22/2024]
Abstract
Despite the important role that biocrust communities play in maintaining ecosystem structure and functioning in deglaciated barren soil, few studies have been conducted on the dynamics of biotic communities and the impact of physicochemical characteristics in shaping the different successional stages. In this study an integrated approach encompassing physicochemical parameters and molecular taxonomy was used for identifying the indicator taxa and the presence of intra- and inter-kingdom interactions in five different crust/biocrust successional stages: i) physical crust, ii) cyanobacteria-dominated biocrust, iii) cyanobacteria/moss-dominated biocrust, iv) moss-dominated biocrust and v) bryophyte carpet. The phylum Gemmatimonadota was the bacterial indicator taxon in the early stage, promoting both inter- and intra-kingdom interactions, while Cyanobacteria and Nematoda phyla played a pivotal role in formation and dynamics of cyanobacteria-dominated biocrusts. A multitrophic community, characterized by a shift from oligotrophic to copiotrophic bacteria and the presence of saproxylic arthropod and herbivore insects was found in the cyanobacteria/moss-dominated biocrust, while a more complex biota, characterized by an increased fungal abundance (classes Sordariomycetes, Leotiomycetes, and Dothideomycetes, phylum Ascomycota), associated with highly trophic consumer invertebrates (phyla Arthropoda, Rotifera, Tardigrada), was observed in moss-dominated biocrusts. The class Bdelloidea and the family Hypsibiidae (phyla Rotifera and Tardigrada, respectively) were metazoan indicator taxon in bryophyte carpet, suggesting their potential role in shaping structure and function of this late successional stage. Nitrogen and phosphorus were the main physicochemical limiting factors driving the shift among different crust/biocrust successional stages. Identification and characterization of indicator taxa, biological intra- and inter-kingdom interactions and abiotic factors driving the shift among different crust/biocrust successional stages provide a detailed picture on crust/biocrust dynamics, revealing a strong interconnection among micro- and macrobiota systems. These findings enhance our understanding of biocrust ecosystems in High Arctic, providing valuable insights for their conservation and management in response to environmental shifts due to climate change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gianmarco Mugnai
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Sciences, University of Perugia, Borgo XX Giugno, 74, Perugia 06121, Italy.
| | - Irina Pinchuk
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Sciences, University of Perugia, Borgo XX Giugno, 74, Perugia 06121, Italy
| | - Luigimaria Borruso
- Faculty of Agricultural, Environmental and Food Science, Free University of Bolzano-Bozen, Bozen-Bolzano, 39100, Italy
| | - Raphael Tiziani
- Faculty of Agricultural, Environmental and Food Science, Free University of Bolzano-Bozen, Bozen-Bolzano, 39100, Italy
| | - Ciro Sannino
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Sciences, University of Perugia, Borgo XX Giugno, 74, Perugia 06121, Italy
| | - Fabiana Canini
- Department of Ecological and Biological Sciences, University of Tuscia, Viterbo 01100, Italy
| | - Benedetta Turchetti
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Sciences, University of Perugia, Borgo XX Giugno, 74, Perugia 06121, Italy
| | - Tanja Mimmo
- Faculty of Agricultural, Environmental and Food Science, Free University of Bolzano-Bozen, Bozen-Bolzano, 39100, Italy
| | - Laura Zucconi
- Department of Ecological and Biological Sciences, University of Tuscia, Viterbo 01100, Italy
| | - Pietro Buzzini
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Sciences, University of Perugia, Borgo XX Giugno, 74, Perugia 06121, Italy
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10
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Kim M, Lopez-Canfin C, Lázaro R, Sánchez-Cañete EP, Weber B. Unravelling the main mechanism responsible for nocturnal CO 2 uptake by dryland soils. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 926:171751. [PMID: 38503391 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.171751] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2023] [Revised: 02/21/2024] [Accepted: 03/14/2024] [Indexed: 03/21/2024]
Abstract
Soil respiration, or CO2 efflux from soil, is a crucial component of the terrestrial carbon cycle in climate models. Contrastingly, many dryland soils absorb atmospheric CO2 at night, but the exact mechanisms driving this uptake are actively debated. Here we used a mechanistic model with heuristic approaches to unravel the underlying processes of the observed patterns of soil-atmosphere CO2 fluxes. We show that the temperature drop during nighttime is the main driver of CO2 uptake by increasing CO2 solubility and local water pH of a thin water film on soil particle surfaces, providing favourable conditions for carbonate precipitation. Our data demonstrate that the nocturnal inorganic carbon absorption is a common soil process, but often offset by biological CO2 production. The uptake rates can be impacted by different successional stages of biocrusts that consume or produce CO2 and modify the pH of the soil water film, which can be maintained by non-rainfall water inputs, such as pore space condensation. Annual estimates of nocturnal carbon uptake, based on in situ continuous measurements at the soil level in drylands are still very scarce, but fluxes of up to several tens of g C m-2 y-1 have been reported, potentially accounting for a considerable fraction of the global residual terrestrial carbon sink.
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Affiliation(s)
- Minsu Kim
- Institute of Biology, University of Graz, Graz, Austria.
| | - Clément Lopez-Canfin
- Department of Applied Physics, University of Granada (UGR), Granada, Spain; Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, USA
| | - Roberto Lázaro
- Department of Desertification and Geo-Ecology, Experimental Station of Arid Zones (EEZA-CSIC), Almería, Spain
| | - Enrique P Sánchez-Cañete
- Department of Applied Physics, University of Granada (UGR), Granada, Spain; Inter-University Institute for Earth System Research (IISTA-CEAMA), Granada, Spain
| | - Bettina Weber
- Institute of Biology, University of Graz, Graz, Austria; Multiphase Chemistry, Max Planck Institute for Chemistry, Mainz, Germany
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11
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Monteiro J, Domingues I, Brilhante M, Serafim J, Nunes S, Trigo R, Branquinho C. Changes in bryophyte functional composition during post-fire succession. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 925:171592. [PMID: 38479526 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.171592] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2023] [Revised: 03/04/2024] [Accepted: 03/07/2024] [Indexed: 03/22/2024]
Abstract
Climate and land-use changes are altering fire regimes in many regions around the world. To date, most studies have focused on the effects of altered fire regimes on woody and herbaceous communities, while the mechanisms driving post-fire bryophyte succession remain poorly understood, particularly in Mediterranean-type ecosystems. Here, we examined changes in bryophyte functional composition along a post-fire chronosequence (ranging from 1 to 20+ years) in Pyrenean oak woodlands (northeastern Portugal). To do so, we defined bryophyte functional groups based on seven morphological, reproductive, and life history traits. Then, we fitted linear and structural equation models to disentangle the direct and indirect effects of fire (time since fire and fire intensity), vegetation structure, climate, topography, and edaphic conditions on the abundance of each group. We identified two main functional groups: early colonizers (species with traits associated with strong colonization ability and desiccation tolerance) and perennial stayers (species with high competitive ability, i.e., large perennial mosses). Overall, the abundance of early colonizer species decreased with time since fire and increased with fire intensity, while the opposite was observed for perennial stayers. Thus, successional dynamics reflected a trade-off between species' competitive and colonization abilities, highlighting the role of biotic interactions later in succession. Patterns of functional composition were also consistent with changes in environmental conditions during succession, suggesting that species may experience stressful conditions (i.e., high radiation and low water availability) in early stages of post-fire succession. Our results also indicate that increased fire intensity may alter successional trajectories, leading to long-term changes in bryophyte communities. By understanding the response of bryophyte communities to fire, we were able to identify species with potential use as soil restoration materials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juliana Monteiro
- cE3c - Center for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes & CHANGE - Global Change and Sustainability Institute, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Campo Grande, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal.
| | - Inês Domingues
- cE3c - Center for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes & CHANGE - Global Change and Sustainability Institute, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Campo Grande, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal.
| | - Miguel Brilhante
- Linking Landscape, Environment, Agriculture and Food (LEAF), Associated Laboratory TERRA, Instituto Superior de Agronomia (ISA), Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal.
| | - João Serafim
- cE3c - Center for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes & CHANGE - Global Change and Sustainability Institute, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Campo Grande, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Sílvia Nunes
- Instituto Dom Luiz (IDL), Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Campo Grande, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal.
| | - Ricardo Trigo
- Instituto Dom Luiz (IDL), Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Campo Grande, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal; Departamento de Meteorologia, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-919, Brazil.
| | - Cristina Branquinho
- cE3c - Center for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes & CHANGE - Global Change and Sustainability Institute, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Campo Grande, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal.
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12
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Kimura K, Okuro T. Cyanobacterial Biocrust on Biomineralized Soil Mitigates Freeze-Thaw Effects and Preserves Structure and Ecological Functions. MICROBIAL ECOLOGY 2024; 87:69. [PMID: 38730059 PMCID: PMC11087357 DOI: 10.1007/s00248-024-02389-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2024] [Accepted: 05/03/2024] [Indexed: 05/12/2024]
Abstract
Biocrust inoculation and microbially induced carbonate precipitation (MICP) are tools used in restoring degraded arid lands. It remains unclear whether the ecological functions of the two tools persist when these methods are combined and subjected to freeze-thaw (FT) cycles. We hypothesized a synergetic interaction between MICP treatment and biocrust under FT cycles, which would allow both components to retain their ecological functions. We grew cyanobacterial (Nostoc commune) biocrusts on bare soil and on MICP (Sporosarcina pasteurii)-treated soil, subjecting them to repeated FT cycles simulating the Mongolian climate. Generalized linear modeling revealed that FT cycling did not affect physical structure or related functions but could increase the productivity and reduce the nutrient condition of the crust. The results confirm the high tolerance of MICP-treated soil and biocrust to FT cycling. MICP treatment + biocrust maintained higher total carbohydrate content under FT stress. Our study indicates that biocrust on biomineralized soil has a robust enough structure to endure FT cycling during spring and autumn and to promote restoration of degraded lands.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keiichi Kimura
- Department of Ecosystem Studies, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, 1-1-1 Yayoi, Bunkyou-Ku, Tokyo, 113-8657, Japan.
| | - Toshiya Okuro
- Department of Ecosystem Studies, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, 1-1-1 Yayoi, Bunkyou-Ku, Tokyo, 113-8657, Japan
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13
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Giraldo-Silva A, Masiello CA. Environmental conditions play a key role in controlling the composition and diversity of Colombian biocrust microbiomes. Front Microbiol 2024; 15:1236554. [PMID: 38725684 PMCID: PMC11081033 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2024.1236554] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2023] [Accepted: 03/11/2024] [Indexed: 05/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Drylands soils worldwide are naturally colonized by microbial communities known as biocrusts. These soil microbiomes render important ecosystem services associated with soil fertility, water holding capacity, and stability to the areas they cover. Because of the importance of biocrusts in the global cycling of nutrients, there is a growing interest in describing the many microbial configurations these communities display worldwide. However, comprehensive 16S rRNA genes surveys of biocrust communities do not exist for much of the planet: for example, in the continents of South America and the northern part of Africa. The absence of a global understanding of biocrust biodiversity has lead us to assign a general importance to community members that may, in fact, be regional. Here we report for the first time the presence of biocrusts in Colombia (South America) through 16S rRNA genes surveys across an arid, a semi-arid and a dry subtropical region within the country. Our results constitute the first glance of the Bacterial/Archaeal communities associated with South American biocrust microbiomes. Communities where cyanobacteria other than Microcoleus vaginatus prevail, despite the latter being considered a key species elsewhere, illustrate differentiable results in these surveys. We also find that the coastal biocrust communities in Colombia include halo-tolerant and halophilic species, and that niche preference of some nitrogen fixing organisms deviate from previously described global trends. In addition, we identified a high proportion (ranging from 5 to 70%, in average) of cyanobacterial sequences that did not match any formally described cyanobacterial species. Our investigation of Colombian biocrusts points to highly diverse communities with climatic regions controlling taxonomic configurations. They also highlight an extensive local diversity to be discovered which is central to better design management and restoration strategies for drylands soils currently undergoing disturbances due to land use and global warming. Finally, this field study highlights the need for an improved mechanistic understanding of the response of key biocrust community members to changes in moisture and temperature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Giraldo-Silva
- Department of Science, Ecology Group and Institute for Multidisciplinary Research in Applied Biology, Public University of Navarre (UPNA), Pamplona, Spain
- Department of Earth, Environmental and Planetary Sciences, Rice University, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Caroline A. Masiello
- Department of Earth, Environmental and Planetary Sciences, Rice University, Houston, TX, United States
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14
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Zhou X, Liang B, Zhang T, Xiong Q, Ma X, Chen L. Co-inoculation of fungi and desert cyanobacteria facilitates biological soil crust formation and soil fertility. Front Microbiol 2024; 15:1377732. [PMID: 38650889 PMCID: PMC11033444 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2024.1377732] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2024] [Accepted: 03/27/2024] [Indexed: 04/25/2024] Open
Abstract
The inoculation of cyanobacteria for enriching soil nutrients and forming biological soil crusts (BSCs) is considered an effective means to restore degraded soil. However, there are limited studies on the application of co-inoculation of fungi and cyanobacteria for degraded soil remediation. In this study, a high exopolysaccharide-secreting fungi Zh2 was isolated from lichen BSCs in Hobq Desert, and co-inoculated with a cyanobacterial strain identified as Phormidium tenue in different proportions to form BSCs on sand during a 35 days incubation period. Results revealed significant differences in crust biomass and soil properties among crusts with different cyanobacterial/fungal inoculation ratios. Microbial biomass, soil nutrient content and enzyme activities in crusts co-inoculated with cyanobacteria and fungi were higher than those inoculated with cyanobacteria and fungi alone. The inoculation of cyanobacteria contributed to the fulvic-like accumulation, and the inoculated fungi significantly increased the humic-like content and soil humification. Redundancy analysis showed that the inoculation of cyanobacteria was positively correlated with the activities of urease and phosphatase, and the content of fulvic-like. Meanwhile, the inoculation of fungi was positively correlated with the contents of total carbon, total nitrogen and humic-like, the activities of catalase and sucrase. Cyanobacteria and fungi play distinct roles in improving soil fertility and accumulating dissolved organic matter. This study provides new insights into the effects of cyanobacteria and fungi inoculations on the formation and development of cyanobacterial-fungus complex crusts, offering a novel method for accelerating induced crust formation on the surface of sand.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiangjun Zhou
- Huangshi Key Laboratory of Prevention and Control of Soil Pollution, College of Urban and Environmental Sciences, Hubei Normal University, Huangshi, China
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Biomass-Resources Chemistry and Environmental Biotechnology, School of Resource and Environmental Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Bin Liang
- Huangshi Key Laboratory of Prevention and Control of Soil Pollution, College of Urban and Environmental Sciences, Hubei Normal University, Huangshi, China
| | - Tian Zhang
- Huangshi Key Laboratory of Prevention and Control of Soil Pollution, College of Urban and Environmental Sciences, Hubei Normal University, Huangshi, China
| | - Qiao Xiong
- Huangshi Key Laboratory of Prevention and Control of Soil Pollution, College of Urban and Environmental Sciences, Hubei Normal University, Huangshi, China
| | - Xiao Ma
- Huangshi Key Laboratory of Prevention and Control of Soil Pollution, College of Urban and Environmental Sciences, Hubei Normal University, Huangshi, China
| | - Lanzhou Chen
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Biomass-Resources Chemistry and Environmental Biotechnology, School of Resource and Environmental Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
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15
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Roncero-Ramos B, Savaglia V, Durieu B, Van de Vreken I, Richel A, Wilmotte A. Ecophysiological and genomic approaches to cyanobacterial hardening for restoration. JOURNAL OF PHYCOLOGY 2024; 60:465-482. [PMID: 38373045 DOI: 10.1111/jpy.13436] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2023] [Revised: 12/15/2023] [Accepted: 12/15/2023] [Indexed: 02/20/2024]
Abstract
Cyanobacteria inhabit extreme environments, including drylands, providing multiple benefits to the ecosystem. Soil degradation in warm drylands is increasing due to land use intensification. Restoration methods adapted to the extreme stress in drylands are being developed, such as cyanobacteria inoculation to recover biocrusts. For this type of restoration method to be a success, it is crucial to optimize the survival of inoculated cyanobacteria in the field. One strategy is to harden them to be acclimated to stressful conditions after laboratory culturing. Here, we analyzed the genome and ecophysiological response to osmotic desiccation and UVR stresses of an Antarctic cyanobacterium, Stenomitos frigidus ULC029, which is closely related to other cyanobacteria from warm and cold dryland soils. Chlorophyll a concentrations showed that preculturing ULC029 under moderate osmotic stress improved its survival during an assay of desiccation plus rehydration under UVR. Additionally, its sequential exposure to these stress factors increased the production of exopolysaccharides, carotenoids, and scytonemin. Desiccation, but not osmotic stress, increased the concentrations of the osmoprotectants trehalose and sucrose. However, osmotic stress might induce the production of other osmoprotectants, for which the complete pathways were observed in the ULC029 genome. In total, 140 genes known to be involved in stress resistance were annotated. Here, we confirm that the sequential application of moderate osmotic stress and dehydration could improve cyanobacterial hardening for soil restoration by inducing several resistance mechanisms. We provide a high-quality genome of ULC029 and a description of the main resistance mechanisms (i.e., production of exopolysaccharides, osmoprotectants, chlorophyll, and carotenoids; DNA repair; and oxidative stress protection).
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Affiliation(s)
- Beatriz Roncero-Ramos
- InBios-Molecular Diversity and Ecology of Cyanobacteria, University of Liège, Liege, Belgium
- Departamento de Biología Vegetal y Ecología, Universidad de Sevilla, Sevilla, Spain
| | - Valentina Savaglia
- InBios-Molecular Diversity and Ecology of Cyanobacteria, University of Liège, Liege, Belgium
- Laboratory of Protistology & Aquatic Ecology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Benoit Durieu
- InBios-Molecular Diversity and Ecology of Cyanobacteria, University of Liège, Liege, Belgium
| | | | - Aurore Richel
- TERRA-Biomass and Green Technologies, University of Liège, Gembloux, Belgium
| | - Annick Wilmotte
- InBios-Molecular Diversity and Ecology of Cyanobacteria, University of Liège, Liege, Belgium
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16
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Jung P, Briegel-Williams L, Werner L, Jost E, Schultz M, Nürnberg DJ, Grube M, Lakatos M. A direct PCR approach with low-biomass insert opens new horizons for molecular sciences on cryptogam communities. Appl Environ Microbiol 2024; 90:e0002424. [PMID: 38349146 PMCID: PMC10952543 DOI: 10.1128/aem.00024-24] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2024] [Accepted: 01/19/2024] [Indexed: 03/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Molecular sequence data have transformed research on cryptogams (e.g., lichens, microalgae, fungi, and symbionts thereof) but methods are still strongly hampered by the small size and intermingled growth of the target organisms, poor cultivability and detrimental effects of their secondary metabolites. Here, we aim to showcase examples on which a modified direct PCR approach for diverse aspects of molecular work on environmental samples concerning biocrusts, biofilms, and cryptogams gives new options for the research community. Unlike traditional approaches, this methodology only requires biomass equivalent to colonies and fragments of 0.2 mm in diameter, which can be picked directly from the environmental sample, and includes a quick DNA lysis followed by a standardized PCR cycle that allows co-cycling of various organisms/target regions in the same run. We demonstrate that this modified method can (i) amplify the most widely used taxonomic gene regions and those used for applied and environmental sciences from single colonies and filaments of free-living cyanobacteria, bryophytes, fungi, and lichens, including their mycobionts, chlorobionts, and cyanobionts from both isolates and in situ material during co-cycling; (ii) act as a tool to confirm that the dominant lichen photobiont was isolated from the original sample; and (iii) optionally remove inhibitory secondary lichen substances. Our results represent examples which highlight the method's potential for future applications covering mycology, phycology, biocrusts, and lichenology, in particular.IMPORTANCECyanobacteria, green algae, lichens, and other cryptogams play crucial roles in complex microbial systems such as biological soil crusts of arid biomes or biofilms in caves. Molecular investigations on environmental samples or isolates of these microorganisms are often hampered by their dense aggregation, small size, or metabolism products which complicate DNA extraction and subsequent PCRs. Our work presents various examples of how a direct DNA extraction and PCR method relying on low biomass inserts can overcome these common problems and discusses additional applications of the workflow including adaptations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick Jung
- Department of Integrative Biotechnology, University of Applied Sciences Kaiserslautern, Pirmasens, Germany
| | - Laura Briegel-Williams
- Department of Integrative Biotechnology, University of Applied Sciences Kaiserslautern, Pirmasens, Germany
| | - Lina Werner
- Department of Integrative Biotechnology, University of Applied Sciences Kaiserslautern, Pirmasens, Germany
| | - Emily Jost
- Department of Integrative Biotechnology, University of Applied Sciences Kaiserslautern, Pirmasens, Germany
| | - Matthias Schultz
- Institute for Plant Science and Microbiology, Herbarium Hamburgense, University of Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Dennis J. Nürnberg
- Institute of Experimental Physics, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- Dahlem Centre for Plant Sciences, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Martin Grube
- Institute of Biology, University of Graz, Graz, Austria
| | - Michael Lakatos
- Department of Integrative Biotechnology, University of Applied Sciences Kaiserslautern, Pirmasens, Germany
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17
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Navarro A, Del Moral A, Weber B, Weber J, Molinero A, Delgado R, Párraga J, Martínez-Checa F. Microbial composition of Saharan dust plumes deposited as red rain in Granada (Southern Spain). THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 913:169745. [PMID: 38163611 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.169745] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2023] [Revised: 12/26/2023] [Accepted: 12/26/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024]
Abstract
During durst storms, also biological material is transported from arid areas such as the Sahara Desert. In the present work, rain samples containing significant amounts of mineral dust have been collected in Granada during different red rain episodes. Biological features (bacteria, biofilm, pollen grain and fungal spore) as well as size-particle distribution and mineralogical composition were studied by SEM. Nanobacteria were observed for the first time in red rain samples. A preliminary metabarcoding analysis was performed on three red rain samples. Here, Bacillota made up 18 % and Pseudomonadota 23 % of the whole prokaryotic community. The fungal community was characterized by a high abundance of Ascomycota and, dependent on the origin, the presence of Chytridiomycota. By means of 16S rRNA sequencing, 18 cultivable microorganisms were identified. In general, members of the phyla Pseudomonadota and Bacillota made up the majority of taxa. Some species, such as Peribacillus frigoritolerans and Bacillus halotolerans were isolated during three different red rain episodes. Generally, red rain carries a wide variety of microorganisms, being their ecosystem and health effects largely unknown.
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Affiliation(s)
- Azahara Navarro
- Department of Edaphology and Agricultural Chemistry, University of Granada, Granada, Spain
| | - Ana Del Moral
- Department of Microbiology, University of Granada, Granada, Spain.
| | - Bettina Weber
- Institute of Plant Sciences, University of Graz, Graz, Austria; Multiphase Chemistry Department, Max Planck Institute for Chemistry, Mainz, Germany
| | - Jens Weber
- Institute of Plant Sciences, University of Graz, Graz, Austria
| | - Alberto Molinero
- Department of Edaphology and Agricultural Chemistry, University of Granada, Granada, Spain
| | - Rafael Delgado
- Department of Edaphology and Agricultural Chemistry, University of Granada, Granada, Spain
| | - Jesús Párraga
- Department of Edaphology and Agricultural Chemistry, University of Granada, Granada, Spain
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18
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Bhakat S, Mondal A, Mandal S, Rath J. Role of exopolysaccharides of Anabaena sp. in desiccation tolerance and biodeterioration of ancient terracotta monuments of Bishnupur. Arch Microbiol 2024; 206:105. [PMID: 38363385 DOI: 10.1007/s00203-024-03841-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2023] [Revised: 12/23/2023] [Accepted: 01/08/2024] [Indexed: 02/17/2024]
Abstract
Colonization of the cyanobacteria in the Bishnupur terracotta temples, one of the heritage sites of West Bengal, India is in an alarming state of deterioration now. Among the cyanobacteria Anabaena sp. (VBCCA 052002) has been isolated from most of the crust samples of terracotta monuments of Bishnupur. The identification was done using micromorphological characters and confirmed by 16S rRNA gene sequencing. The isolated strain produces enormous exopolysaccharides, which are extracted, hydrolyzed, and analyzed by HPLC. We have studied desiccation tolerance in this cyanobacterium and found biosynthesis of trehalose with an increase in durations of desiccation. The in vitro experiment shows that Chlorophyll-a and carotenoid content increase with fourteen days of desiccation, and cellular carbohydrates increase continuously. However, cellular protein decreases with desiccation. To gain insights into the survival strategies and biodeterioration mechanisms of Anabaena sp. in the desiccated conditions of the Bishnupur monuments, the present study focuses on the physiological aspects of the cyanobacteria under controlled in vitro conditions. Our study indicates that in desiccation conditions, trehalose biosynthesis takes place in Anabaena sp. As a result of the excessive sugar and polysaccharide produced, it adheres to the surface of the terracotta structure. The continuous contraction and expansion of these polysaccharides contribute to the biodeterioration of these monuments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shailen Bhakat
- Department of Botany, Sambhu Nath College, Labpur, Birbhum, West Bengal, 731303, India
| | - Arka Mondal
- Department of Botany, Visva-Bharati (Central University), Santiniketan, West Bengal, 731235, India
| | - Sikha Mandal
- Department of Botany, Sree Chaitanya College, Habra, West Bengal, 743268, India.
| | - Jnanendra Rath
- Department of Botany, Visva-Bharati (Central University), Santiniketan, West Bengal, 731235, India
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Jusko BM, Johansen JR. Description of six new cyanobacterial species from soil biocrusts on San Nicolas Island, California, in three genera previously restricted to Brazil. JOURNAL OF PHYCOLOGY 2024; 60:133-151. [PMID: 38070138 DOI: 10.1111/jpy.13411] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2023] [Revised: 11/12/2023] [Accepted: 11/13/2023] [Indexed: 02/17/2024]
Abstract
As the taxonomic knowledge of cyanobacteria from terrestrial environments increases, it remains important to analyze biodiversity in areas that have been understudied to fully understand global and endemic diversity. This study was completed as part of a larger algal biodiversity study of the soil biocrusts of San Nicholas Island, California, USA. Among the taxa isolated were several new species in three genera (Atlanticothrix, Pycnacronema, and Konicacronema) which were described from, and previously restricted to, Brazil. New taxa are described herein using a polyphasic approach to cyanobacterial taxonomy that considers morphological, molecular, ecological, and biogeographical factors. Morphological data corroborated by molecular analysis including sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene, and the associated 16S-23S ITS rRNA region was used to delineate three new species of Atlanticothrix, two species of Pycnacronema, and one species of Konicacronema. The overlap of genera from San Nicolas Island and Brazil suggests that cyanobacterial genera may be widely distributed across global hemispheres, whereas the presence of distinct lineages may indicate that this is not true at the species level. Our data suggest that based upon global wind patterns, cyanobacteria in both Northern and Southern hemispheres of the Americas may have a more recent common ancestor in Northern Africa, but this common ancestry is distant enough that speciation has occurred since transatlantic dispersal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brian M Jusko
- Department of Biology, John Carroll University, University Heights, Ohio, USA
| | - Jeffrey R Johansen
- Department of Biology, John Carroll University, University Heights, Ohio, USA
- Department of Botany, Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
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Qiu D, Bowker MA, Xiao B, Zhao Y, Zhou X, Li X. Mapping biocrust distribution in China's drylands under changing climate. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 905:167211. [PMID: 37730025 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.167211] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2023] [Revised: 09/17/2023] [Accepted: 09/17/2023] [Indexed: 09/22/2023]
Abstract
Biological soil crusts (biocrusts) are widely distributed in global drylands and have multiple significant roles in regulating dryland soil and ecosystem multifunctionality. However, maps of their distribution over large spatial scales are uncommon and sometimes unreliable, because our current remote sensing technology is unable to efficiently discriminate between biocrusts and vascular plants or even bare soil across different ecosystem and soil types. The lack of biocrust spatial data may limit our ability to detect risks to dryland function or key tipping points. Here, we indirectly mapped biocrust distribution in China's drylands using spatial prediction modeling, based on a set of occurrences of biocrusts (379 in total) and high-resolution soil and environmental data. The results showed that biocrusts currently cover 13.9 % of China's drylands (or 5.7 % of China's total area), with moss-, lichen-, and cyanobacterial-dominated biocrusts each occupying 5.7 % to 10.7 % of the region. Biocrust distribution is mainly determined by soil properties (soil type and contents of gravel and nitrogen), aridity stress, and altitude. Their most favorable habitat is arenosols with low contents of gravel and nitrogen, in climate with a drought index of 0.54 and an altitude of about 500 m. By 2050, climate change will lead to a 5.5 %-9.0 % reduction in biocrust cover. Lichen biocrusts exhibit a high vulnerability to climate change, with potential reductions of up to 19.0 % in coverage. Biocrust cover loss is primarily caused by the combined effects of the elevated temperature and increased precipitation. Our study provides the first high-resolution (250 × 250 m) map of biocrust distribution in China's drylands and offers a reliable approach for mapping regional or global biocrust colonization. We suggest incorporating biocrusts into Earth system models to identify their significant impact on global or regional-scale processes under climate change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dexun Qiu
- Key Laboratory of Arable Land Conservation (North China), Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs/College of Land Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China; State Key Laboratory of Soil Erosion and Dryland Farming on the Loess Plateau, Institute of Soil and Water Conservation, Northwest A&F University/Chinese Academy of Sciences and Ministry of Water Resources, Yangling 712100, China; Breeding Base for State Key Laboratory of Land Degradation and Ecological Restoration in Northwestern China/Key Laboratory of Restoration and Reconstruction of Degraded Ecosystems in Northwestern China of Ministry of Education, Ningxia University, Yinchuan 750021, China
| | - Matthew A Bowker
- School of Forestry, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ 86011, USA; Center for Ecosystem Science and Society, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ 86011, USA
| | - Bo Xiao
- Key Laboratory of Arable Land Conservation (North China), Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs/College of Land Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China; State Key Laboratory of Soil Erosion and Dryland Farming on the Loess Plateau, Institute of Soil and Water Conservation, Northwest A&F University/Chinese Academy of Sciences and Ministry of Water Resources, Yangling 712100, China; Breeding Base for State Key Laboratory of Land Degradation and Ecological Restoration in Northwestern China/Key Laboratory of Restoration and Reconstruction of Degraded Ecosystems in Northwestern China of Ministry of Education, Ningxia University, Yinchuan 750021, China.
| | - Yunge Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Soil Erosion and Dryland Farming on the Loess Plateau, Institute of Soil and Water Conservation, Northwest A&F University/Chinese Academy of Sciences and Ministry of Water Resources, Yangling 712100, China
| | - Xiaobing Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Desert and Oasis Ecology, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi 830011, China
| | - Xinrong Li
- Shapotou Desert Research and Experiment Station, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resource Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, China
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Cao Y, Bowker MA, Delgado-Baquerizo M, Xiao B. Biocrusts protect the Great Wall of China from erosion. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2023; 9:eadk5892. [PMID: 38064559 PMCID: PMC10708191 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adk5892] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2023] [Accepted: 11/09/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023]
Abstract
The Great Wall of China, one of the most emblematic and historical structures built by humankind throughout all of history, is suffering from rain and wind erosion and is largely colonized by biocrusts. However, how biocrusts influence the conservation and longevity of this structure is virtually unknown. Here, we conducted an extensive biocrust survey across the Great Wall and found that biocrusts cover 67% of the studied sections. Biocrusts enhance the mechanical stability and reduce the erodibility of the Great Wall. Compared with bare rammed earth, the biocrust-covered sections exhibited reduced porosity, water-holding capacity, erodibility, and salinity by 2 to 48%, while increasing compressive strength, penetration resistance, shear strength, and aggregate stability by 37 to 321%. We further found that the protective function of biocrusts mainly depended on biocrust features, climatic conditions, and structure types. Our work highlights the fundamental importance of biocrusts as a nature-based intervention to the conservation of the Great Wall, protecting this monumental heritage from erosion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yousong Cao
- The Research Center of Soil and Water Conservation and Ecological Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences and Ministry of Education, Yangling, China
- State Key Laboratory of Soil Erosion and Dryland Farming on the Loess Plateau, Institute of Soil and Water Conservation, Chinese Academy of Sciences and Ministry of Water Resources, Yangling, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Matthew A. Bowker
- School of Forestry, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ, USA
- Center of Ecosystem Science and Society, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ, USA
| | - Manuel Delgado-Baquerizo
- Laboratorio de Biodiversidad y Funcionamiento Ecosistémico, Instituto de Recursos Naturales y Agrobiología de Sevilla (IRNAS), CSIC, Seville, Spain
| | - Bo Xiao
- The Research Center of Soil and Water Conservation and Ecological Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences and Ministry of Education, Yangling, China
- State Key Laboratory of Soil Erosion and Dryland Farming on the Loess Plateau, Institute of Soil and Water Conservation, Chinese Academy of Sciences and Ministry of Water Resources, Yangling, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Key Laboratory of Arable Land Conservation (North China), Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs/College of Land Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
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Abrantes GH, Gücker B, Chaves RC, Boëchat IG, Figueredo CC. Epilithic biofilms provide large amounts of nitrogen to tropical mountain landscapes. Environ Microbiol 2023; 25:3592-3603. [PMID: 37816630 DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.16515] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2023] [Accepted: 09/19/2023] [Indexed: 10/12/2023]
Abstract
We show that epilithic biofilms are a relevant nitrogen (N) source in a rocky mountain range in Brazil. During different seasons, we quantified nitrate, ammonium, dissolved organic N (DON) and total dissolved N (TDN) leached by a simulated short rain event. We quantified the epilithic autotrophic biomass by taxonomic groups and its correlation with leached N. We hypothesized that leached N would be correlated to heterocystous cyanobacteria biomass since they are more efficient N2 fixers. We estimated a landscape N supply of 8.5 kg.ha-1 .year-1 considering the mean precipitation in the region. TDN in leachate was mainly composed of DON (83.8% ± 22%), followed by nitrate (12.1% ± 3%) and ammonium (5% ± 5%). The autotrophic epilithic community was mainly composed of non-heterocystous (Gloeocapsopsis) and heterocystous cyanobacteria (Scytonema and Stigonema), except for a site more commonly affected by fire events that showed a dominance of Chlorophyta. Biogeochemical upscaling was facilitated by the fact that N leaching was not different among sites or related to autotrophic epilithic biomass or assemblage composition. In conclusion, the capacity of epilithic biofilms to provide N to surrounding systems is an ecosystem service that underscores the necessity to conserve them and their habitats.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Björn Gücker
- Department of Geosciences, Federal University of São João del-Rei, São João del-Rei, Brazil
| | - Ronaldo César Chaves
- Department of Botany, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Iola Gonçalves Boëchat
- Department of Geosciences, Federal University of São João del-Rei, São João del-Rei, Brazil
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Ding Y, Geng Y, Zhou W, Li D. Habitat-specific environmental factors regulate the spatial variability of biological soil crust microbial communities on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 901:165937. [PMID: 37532035 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.165937] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2023] [Revised: 07/28/2023] [Accepted: 07/29/2023] [Indexed: 08/04/2023]
Abstract
Biological soil crusts (BSCs) are an important biological component of the soil surface, covering approximately 12 % of the Earth's land surface. Although BSCs are closely related to habitats, the microbial diversity and spatial variability of BSCs in different ecosystems are still unclear, especially on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau (QTP), where climate is changeable and habitats are complex. Here, we investigated the diversity, assembly processes, spatial distribution pattern and driving factors of prokaryotic and eukaryotic microbial communities in BSCs in four habitats on the QTP. It was found that habitat-specific environmental factors regulated the composition, diversity and spatial variability of BSC microbial communities. Soil organic carbon and soil water content were the most important factors (R2 = 0.9024, P = 0.001; R2 = 0.8004, P = 0.001) affecting the spatial differences in prokaryotes and eukaryotes, respectively. Under the specific climate of the QTP, the spatial pattern of microbial communities in BSCs was controlled by precipitation rather than temperature. In addition, ecological processes further explained the effects of habitat specificity, and environmental filtering explained microbial community differences better than dispersal limitation. The results of the neutral community model and the normalized stochastic ratio index revealed that the assembly of prokaryotic communities was determined by deterministic processes at the regional scale, and at the local scale, the assembly process was mainly determined by habitat type, while the assembly of eukaryotic communities was determined by stochastic processes at both the regional and local scales. This study provided a scientific reference for the prediction of BSC distribution and resource conservation under future climate change scenarios.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuang Ding
- School of Ecology and Environment, Tibet University, Lhasa 850001, PR China; Key Laboratory of Algal Biology, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430072, PR China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, PR China
| | - Yuchen Geng
- Key Laboratory of Algal Biology, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430072, PR China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, PR China
| | - Weicheng Zhou
- School of Chemistry and Environmental Science, Xiangnan University, Chenzhou 423000, PR China
| | - Dunhai Li
- Key Laboratory of Algal Biology, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430072, PR China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, PR China.
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Li Y, Wang F, Yang H, Li H, Hu C. Balanced biogeographic and local environmental effects determine the patterns of microbial diversity in biocrusts at multi-scales. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1284864. [PMID: 38029206 PMCID: PMC10666793 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1284864] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2023] [Accepted: 10/23/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Biodiversity maintenance and its underlying mechanisms are central issues of ecology. However, predicting the composition turnovers of microbial communities at multiple spatial scales remains greatly challenging because they are obscured by the inconsistent impacts of climatic and local edaphic conditions on the assembly process. Methods Based on the Illumina MeSeq 16S/18S rRNA sequencing technology, we investigated soil bacterial and eukaryotic communities in biocrusts with different successional levels at a subcontinental scale of Northern China. Results Results showed that irrespective of spatial scale, bacterial α diversity increased but eukaryotic diversity decreased with the primary succession, whereas both β diversities decreased at the subcontinental scale compared with smaller scales, indicating that the biogeographic pattern of soil microorganisms was balanced by successional convergence and distance decay effect. We found that the convergence of bacterial and eukaryotic communities was attributed to the turnovers of generalist and specialist species, respectively. In this process, edaphic and climatic factors showed unique roles in the changes of diversity at local/subcontinental scales. Moreover, the taxonomic diversity tended to be more susceptible to climatic and edaphic conditions, while biotic factors (photosynthesis and pigments) were more important to phylogenetic diversity. Conclusion Taken together, our study provided comprehensive insights into understanding the pattern of microbial diversity at multiple spatial scales of drylands.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuanlong Li
- Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Carbon Neutrality and Intelligent Energy, School of Resource and Environment, Hunan University of Technology and Business, Changsha, China
- Key Laboratory of Algal Biology, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China
| | - Fengdi Wang
- Institute of Hematology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Haijian Yang
- Key Laboratory of Algal Biology, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China
| | - Hua Li
- Key Laboratory of Algal Biology, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China
| | - Chunxiang Hu
- Key Laboratory of Algal Biology, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China
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Jech SD, Day N, Barger NN, Antoninka A, Bowker MA, Reed S, Tucker C. Cultivating Resilience in Dryland Soils: An Assisted Migration Approach to Biological Soil Crust Restoration. Microorganisms 2023; 11:2570. [PMID: 37894228 PMCID: PMC10608944 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11102570] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2023] [Revised: 10/01/2023] [Accepted: 10/02/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Land use practices and climate change have driven substantial soil degradation across global drylands, impacting ecosystem functions and human livelihoods. Biological soil crusts, a common feature of dryland ecosystems, are under extensive exploration for their potential to restore the stability and fertility of degraded soils through the development of inoculants. However, stressful abiotic conditions often result in the failure of inoculation-based restoration in the field and may hinder the long-term success of biocrust restoration efforts. Taking an assisted migration approach, we cultivated biocrust inocula sourced from multiple hot-adapted sites (Mojave and Sonoran Deserts) in an outdoor facility at a cool desert site (Colorado Plateau). In addition to cultivating inoculum from each site, we created an inoculum mixture of biocrust from the Mojave Desert, Sonoran Desert, and Colorado Plateau. We then applied two habitat amelioration treatments to the cultivation site (growth substrate and shading) to enhance soil stability and water availability and reduce UV stress. Using marker gene sequencing, we found that the cultivated mixed inoculum comprised both local- and hot-adapted cyanobacteria at the end of cultivation but had similar cyanobacterial richness as each unmixed inoculum. All cultivated inocula had more cyanobacterial 16S rRNA gene copies and higher cyanobacterial richness when cultivated with a growth substrate and shade. Our work shows that it is possible to field cultivate biocrust inocula sourced from different deserts, but that community composition shifts toward that of the cultivation site unless habitat amelioration is employed. Future assessments of the function of a mixed inoculum in restoration and its resilience in the face of abiotic stressors are needed to determine the relative benefit of assisted migration compared to the challenges and risks of this approach.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sierra D Jech
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO 80309, USA
| | - Natalie Day
- Colorado Water Science Center, U.S. Geological Survey, Grand Junction, CO 81506, USA
| | - Nichole N Barger
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO 80309, USA
| | - Anita Antoninka
- School of Forestry, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ 86001, USA
| | - Matthew A Bowker
- School of Forestry, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ 86001, USA
- Center for Ecosystem Science and Society, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ 86001, USA
| | - Sasha Reed
- Southwest Biological Science Center, U.S. Geological Survey, Moab, UT 84532, USA
| | - Colin Tucker
- Manti-La Sal National Forest, U.S. Forest Service, Monticello, UT 84535, USA
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Jech SD, Havrilla CA, Barger NN. The influence of disturbance scale on the natural recovery of biological soil crusts on the Colorado Plateau. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1176760. [PMID: 37601344 PMCID: PMC10434622 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1176760] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2023] [Accepted: 06/27/2023] [Indexed: 08/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Up to 35% of global drylands have experienced degradation due to anthropogenic impacts, including physical disturbances like trampling and soil removal. These physical disturbances can result in the loss of soil communities known as biological soil crusts (biocrusts) and the important functions they provide, such as soil stability and fertility. The reestablishment of biocrust organisms after disturbance is determined by many factors, including propagule availability, climate, and vascular plant community structure. The role of these factors in natural recovery may be intensified by the extent (or size) of a disturbance. For example, large disturbances can result in reduced propagule availability or enhanced erosion, which impact both the dispersal and establishment of biocrust organisms on disturbed soils, leading to a slower natural recovery. To test how disturbance extent impacts biocrust's natural recovery, we installed four disturbance extents by completely removing biocrust from the mineral soil in plots ranging from 0.01 m2 to 1 m2 and measured productivity and erosion resistance. We found that small disturbance extents did not differ in chlorophyll a content, total exopolysaccharide content, or soil stability after 1.5 years of natural recovery. However, the concentration of glycocalyx exopolysaccharide was higher in the smallest disturbances after the recovery period. Our results indicate that disturbances <1 m2 in scale recover at similar rates, with soil stability returning to high levels in just a few years after severe disturbance. Our findings align with prior work on biocrust natural recovery in drylands and highlight the opportunity for future work to address (1) cyanobacteria, moss, and lichen propagule dispersal; (2) rates and mechanisms of biocrust succession; and (3) the role of wind or water in determining biocrust colonization patterns as compared to lateral growth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sierra D. Jech
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, United States
| | - Caroline A. Havrilla
- Department of Forest and Rangeland Stewardship, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, United States
| | - Nichole N. Barger
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, United States
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Kurth JK, Albrecht M, Glaser K, Karsten U, Vestergaard G, Armbruster M, Kublik S, Schmid CAO, Schloter M, Schulz S. Biological soil crusts on agricultural soils of mesic regions promote microbial cross-kingdom co-occurrences and nutrient retention. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1169958. [PMID: 37520365 PMCID: PMC10382179 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1169958] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2023] [Accepted: 06/21/2023] [Indexed: 08/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Biological soil crusts (biocrusts) are known as biological hotspots on undisturbed, nutrient-poor bare soil surfaces and until now, are mostly observed in (semi-) arid regions but are currently poorly understood in agricultural systems. This is a crucial knowledge gap because managed sites of mesic regions can quickly cover large areas. Thus, we addressed the questions (i) if biocrusts from agricultural sites of mesic regions also increase nutrients and microbial biomass as their (semi-) arid counterparts, and (ii) how microbial community assemblage in those biocrusts is influenced by disturbances like different fertilization and tillage regimes. Methods We compared phototrophic biomass, nutrient concentrations as well as the abundance, diversity and co-occurrence of Archaea, Bacteria, and Fungi in biocrusts and bare soils at a site with low agricultural soil quality. Results and Discussion Biocrusts built up significant quantities of phototrophic and microbial biomass and stored more nutrients compared to bare soils independent of the fertilizer applied and the tillage management. Surprisingly, particularly low abundant Actinobacteria were highly connected in the networks of biocrusts. In contrast, Cyanobacteria were rarely connected, which indicates reduced importance within the microbial community of the biocrusts. However, in bare soil networks, Cyanobacteria were the most connected bacterial group and, hence, might play a role in early biocrust formation due to their ability to, e.g., fix nitrogen and thus induce hotspot-like properties. The microbial community composition differed and network complexity was reduced by conventional tillage. Mineral and organic fertilizers led to networks that are more complex with a higher percentage of positive correlations favoring microbe-microbe interactions. Our study demonstrates that biocrusts represent a microbial hotspot on soil surfaces under agricultural use, which may have important implications for sustainable management of such soils in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia Katharina Kurth
- Chair for Environmental Microbiology, TUM School of Life Science, Technical University Munich, Freising, Germany
- Environmental Health Centre, Research Unit for Comparative Microbiome Analysis, Helmholtz Zentrum München - Deutsches Forschungszentrum für Gesundheit und Umwelt, Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Martin Albrecht
- Department of Applied Ecology and Phycology, Institute of Biological Sciences, University of Rostock, Rostock, Germany
| | - Karin Glaser
- Department of Applied Ecology and Phycology, Institute of Biological Sciences, University of Rostock, Rostock, Germany
| | - Ulf Karsten
- Department of Applied Ecology and Phycology, Institute of Biological Sciences, University of Rostock, Rostock, Germany
| | - Gisle Vestergaard
- Section of Microbiology, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Martin Armbruster
- Agricultural Analytical and Research Institute Speyer (LUFA Speyer), Speyer, Germany
| | - Susanne Kublik
- Environmental Health Centre, Research Unit for Comparative Microbiome Analysis, Helmholtz Zentrum München - Deutsches Forschungszentrum für Gesundheit und Umwelt, Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Christoph A. O. Schmid
- Environmental Health Centre, Research Unit for Comparative Microbiome Analysis, Helmholtz Zentrum München - Deutsches Forschungszentrum für Gesundheit und Umwelt, Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Michael Schloter
- Chair for Environmental Microbiology, TUM School of Life Science, Technical University Munich, Freising, Germany
- Environmental Health Centre, Research Unit for Comparative Microbiome Analysis, Helmholtz Zentrum München - Deutsches Forschungszentrum für Gesundheit und Umwelt, Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Stefanie Schulz
- Environmental Health Centre, Research Unit for Comparative Microbiome Analysis, Helmholtz Zentrum München - Deutsches Forschungszentrum für Gesundheit und Umwelt, Neuherberg, Germany
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Cowan DA, Cary SC, DiRuggiero J, Eckardt F, Ferrari B, Hopkins DW, Lebre PH, Maggs-Kölling G, Pointing SB, Ramond JB, Tribbia D, Warren-Rhodes K. 'Follow the Water': Microbial Water Acquisition in Desert Soils. Microorganisms 2023; 11:1670. [PMID: 37512843 PMCID: PMC10386458 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11071670] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2023] [Revised: 06/12/2023] [Accepted: 06/16/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Water availability is the dominant driver of microbial community structure and function in desert soils. However, these habitats typically only receive very infrequent large-scale water inputs (e.g., from precipitation and/or run-off). In light of recent studies, the paradigm that desert soil microorganisms are largely dormant under xeric conditions is questionable. Gene expression profiling of microbial communities in desert soils suggests that many microbial taxa retain some metabolic functionality, even under severely xeric conditions. It, therefore, follows that other, less obvious sources of water may sustain the microbial cellular and community functionality in desert soil niches. Such sources include a range of precipitation and condensation processes, including rainfall, snow, dew, fog, and nocturnal distillation, all of which may vary quantitatively depending on the location and geomorphological characteristics of the desert ecosystem. Other more obscure sources of bioavailable water may include groundwater-derived water vapour, hydrated minerals, and metabolic hydro-genesis. Here, we explore the possible sources of bioavailable water in the context of microbial survival and function in xeric desert soils. With global climate change projected to have profound effects on both hot and cold deserts, we also explore the potential impacts of climate-induced changes in water availability on soil microbiomes in these extreme environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Don A Cowan
- Centre for Microbial Ecology and Genomics, Department of Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0002, South Africa
| | - S Craig Cary
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Waikato, Hamilton 3216, New Zealand
| | - Jocelyne DiRuggiero
- Departments of Biology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA
- Departments of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA
| | - Frank Eckardt
- Department of Environmental and Geographical Science, University of Cape Town, Cape Town 7701, South Africa
| | - Belinda Ferrari
- School of Biotechnology and Biological Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
| | - David W Hopkins
- Scotland's Rural College, West Mains Road, Edinburgh EH9 3JG, UK
| | - Pedro H Lebre
- Centre for Microbial Ecology and Genomics, Department of Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0002, South Africa
| | | | - Stephen B Pointing
- Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117558, Singapore
| | - Jean-Baptiste Ramond
- Centre for Microbial Ecology and Genomics, Department of Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0002, South Africa
- Departamento Genética Molecular y Microbiología, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago 7820436, Chile
| | - Dana Tribbia
- School of Biotechnology and Biological Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
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Trexler RV, Van Goethem MW, Goudeau D, Nath N, Malmstrom RR, Northen TR, Couradeau E. BONCAT-FACS-Seq reveals the active fraction of a biocrust community undergoing a wet-up event. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1176751. [PMID: 37434715 PMCID: PMC10330726 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1176751] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2023] [Accepted: 06/05/2023] [Indexed: 07/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Determining which microorganisms are active within soil communities remains a major technical endeavor in microbial ecology research. One promising method to accomplish this is coupling bioorthogonal non-canonical amino acid tagging (BONCAT) with fluorescence activated cell sorting (FACS) which sorts cells based on whether or not they are producing new proteins. Combined with shotgun metagenomic sequencing (Seq), we apply this method to profile the diversity and potential functional capabilities of both active and inactive microorganisms in a biocrust community after being resuscitated by a simulated rain event. We find that BONCAT-FACS-Seq is capable of discerning the pools of active and inactive microorganisms, especially within hours of applying the BONCAT probe. The active and inactive components of the biocrust community differed in species richness and composition at both 4 and 21 h after the wetting event. The active fraction of the biocrust community is marked by taxa commonly observed in other biocrust communities, many of which play important roles in species interactions and nutrient transformations. Among these, 11 families within the Firmicutes are enriched in the active fraction, supporting previous reports indicating that the Firmicutes are key early responders to biocrust wetting. We highlight the apparent inactivity of many Actinobacteria and Proteobacteria through 21 h after wetting, and note that members of the Chitinophagaceae, enriched in the active fraction, may play important ecological roles following wetting. Based on the enrichment of COGs in the active fraction, predation by phage and other bacterial members, as well as scavenging and recycling of labile nutrients, appear to be important ecological processes soon after wetting. To our knowledge, this is the first time BONCAT-FACS-Seq has been applied to biocrust samples, and therefore we discuss the potential advantages and shortcomings of coupling metagenomics to BONCAT to intact soil communities such as biocrust. In all, by pairing BONCAT-FACS and metagenomics, we are capable of highlighting the taxa and potential functions that typifies the microbes actively responding to a rain event.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryan V. Trexler
- Intercollege Graduate Degree Program in Ecology, Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, United States
| | - Marc W. Van Goethem
- Environmental Genomics and Systems Biology Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, United States
- Biological and Environmental Sciences and Engineering Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
| | - Danielle Goudeau
- Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, DOE Joint Genome Institute, Berkeley, CA, United States
| | - Nandita Nath
- Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, DOE Joint Genome Institute, Berkeley, CA, United States
| | - Rex R. Malmstrom
- Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, DOE Joint Genome Institute, Berkeley, CA, United States
| | - Trent R. Northen
- Environmental Genomics and Systems Biology Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, United States
- Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, DOE Joint Genome Institute, Berkeley, CA, United States
| | - Estelle Couradeau
- Environmental Genomics and Systems Biology Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, United States
- Department of Ecosystem Science and Management, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, United States
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Rubio C, Lázaro R. Patterns in biocrust recovery over time in semiarid southeast Spain. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1184065. [PMID: 37396363 PMCID: PMC10309646 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1184065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2023] [Accepted: 05/30/2023] [Indexed: 07/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Biological soil crusts (biocrusts) are communities of microorganisms, fungi, algae, lichens and mosses inhabiting on the soil surface and within the uppermost soil millimetres. They play an important ecological role in drylands, determining physical and chemical soil properties and reducing soil erosion. Studies on biocrust natural recovery establish highly variable recovery times. The different objectives and methodologies of experimentation and analysis, strongly influence these predictions. The main purpose of this research is to analyze the recovery dynamics of four biocrust communities and their relationship with microclimatic variables. In 2004, in Tabernas Desert, some of us removed the biocrust in central 30 cm × 30 cm area of three 50 cm × 50 cm plots in each of four biocrust communities (Cyanobacteria, Squamarina, Diploschistes, and Lepraria), installing a microclimatic station in each one with sensors for temperature and humidity of the soil and air, dew point, PAR and rain. Yearly, the 50 cm × 50 cm plots were photographed, and the cover of every species was monitored in every 5 cm × 5 cm cell of a 36-cells grid covering the removed central area. We analyzed different functions to fit the cover recovery, the differences in cover recovery speed between communities, the recovery dynamics from the spatial analysis of the plot, the changes in dissimilarity and biodiversity and the possible relationships with the climatic variables. The recovery of the biocrust cover fits to a sigmoidal function. The community dominated by Cyanobacteria developed faster than those dominated by lichens. The Squamarina and Diploschistes communities recovered faster than that of Lepraria and appears to be influenced by the surrounding undisturbed areas. Species-based dissimilarity between consecutive inventories fluctuated and decreased over time, while biodiversity increases in a similar way. The speed of recovery of the biocrust in each community, along with the order in which the species appeared, support the hypothesis about the succession, which would include three phases: firstly Cyanobacteria, then Diploschistes and/or Squamarina and finally Lepraria. The relationship between biocrust recovery and microclimate is complex and this work highlights the need to carry out further research on this topic and on biocrust dynamics in general.
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Wang G, Yin X, Feng Z, Chen C, Chen D, Wu B, Liu C, Morel JL, Jiang Y, Yu H, He H, Chao Y, Tang Y, Qiu R, Wang S. Novel biological aqua crust enhances in situ metal(loid) bioremediation driven by phototrophic/diazotrophic biofilm. MICROBIOME 2023; 11:110. [PMID: 37202810 DOI: 10.1186/s40168-023-01549-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2022] [Accepted: 04/13/2023] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Understanding the ecological and environmental functions of phototrophic biofilms in the biological crust is crucial for improving metal(loid) (e.g. Cd, As) bioremediation in mining ecosystems. In this study, in combination with metal(loid) monitoring and metagenomic analysis, we systematically evaluated the effect of biofilm in a novel biological aqua crust (biogenic aqua crust-BAC) on in situ metal(loid) bioremediation of a representative Pb/Zn tailing pond. RESULTS We observed strong accumulation of potentially bioavailable metal(loid)s and visible phototrophic biofilms in the BAC. Furthermore, dominating taxa Leptolyngbyaceae (10.2-10.4%, Cyanobacteria) and Cytophagales (12.3-22.1%, Bacteroidota) were enriched in biofilm. Along with predominant heterotrophs (e.g. Cytophagales sp.) as well as diazotrophs (e.g. Hyphomonadaceae sp.), autotrophs/diazotrophs (e.g. Leptolyngbyaceae sp.) in phototrophic biofilm enriched the genes encoding extracellular peptidase (e.g. family S9, S1), CAZymes (e.g. CBM50, GT2) and biofilm formation (e.g. OmpR, CRP and LuxS), thus enhancing the capacity of nutrient accumulation and metal(loid) bioremediation in BAC system. CONCLUSIONS Our study demonstrated that a phototrophic/diazotrophic biofilm constitutes the structured communities containing specific autotrophs (e.g. Leptolyngbyaceae sp.) and heterotrophs (e.g. Cytophagales sp.), which effectively control metal(loid) and nutrient input using solar energy in aquatic environments. Elucidation of the mechanisms of biofilm formation coupled with metal(loid) immobilization in BAC expands the fundamental understanding of the geochemical fate of metal(loid)s, which may be harnessed to enhance in situ metal(loid) bioremediation in the aquatic ecosystem of the mining area. Video Abstract.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guobao Wang
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510006, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Control and Remediation Technology, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510275, China
| | - Xiuran Yin
- Microbial Ecophysiology Group, University of Bremen, Bremen, Germany
| | - Zekai Feng
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510006, China
| | - Chiyu Chen
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510006, China
| | - Daijie Chen
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510006, China
| | - Bo Wu
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510006, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Control and Remediation Technology, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510275, China
| | - Chong Liu
- Institute of Agricultural Resources and Environment, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Guangzhou, 510640, China
| | - Jean Louis Morel
- Laboratoire Sols Et Environnement, UMR 1120, Université de Lorraine, INRAE, 54518, Vandoeuvre-Lès-Nancy, France
| | - Yuanyuan Jiang
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510006, China
| | - Hang Yu
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510006, China
| | - Huan He
- Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Agricultural & Rural Pollution Abatement and Environmental Safety, College of Natural Resources and Environment, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, China
| | - Yuanqing Chao
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510006, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Control and Remediation Technology, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510275, China
| | - Yetao Tang
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510006, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Control and Remediation Technology, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510275, China
| | - Rongliang Qiu
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510006, China.
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Control and Remediation Technology, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510275, China.
- Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Agricultural & Rural Pollution Abatement and Environmental Safety, College of Natural Resources and Environment, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, China.
| | - Shizhong Wang
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510006, China.
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Control and Remediation Technology, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510275, China.
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Hoellrich MR, James DK, Bustos D, Darrouzet-Nardi A, Santiago LS, Pietrasiak N. Biocrust carbon exchange varies with crust type and time on Chihuahuan Desert gypsum soils. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1128631. [PMID: 37234525 PMCID: PMC10208066 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1128631] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2022] [Accepted: 03/30/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction In dryland systems, biological soil crusts (biocrusts) can occupy large areas of plant interspaces, where they fix carbon following rain. Although distinct biocrust types contain different dominant photoautotrophs, few studies to date have documented carbon exchange over time from various biocrust types. This is especially true for gypsum soils. Our objective was to assess the carbon exchange of biocrust types established at the world's largest gypsum dune field at White Sands National Park. Methods We sampled five different biocrust types from a sand sheet location in three different years and seasons (summer 2020, fall 2021, and winter 2022) for carbon exchange measurements in controlled lab conditions. Biocrusts were rehydrated to full saturation and light incubated for 30 min, 2, 6, 12, 24, and 36 h. Samples were then subject to a 12-point light regime with a LI-6400XT photosynthesis system to determine carbon exchange. Results Biocrust carbon exchange values differed by biocrust type, by incubation time since wetting, and by date of field sampling. Lichens and mosses had higher gross and net carbon fixation rates than dark and light cyanobacterial crusts. High respiration rates were found after 0.5 h and 2 h incubation times as communities recovered from desiccation, leveling off after 6 h incubation. Net carbon fixation of all types increased with longer incubation time, primarily as a result of decreasing respiration, which suggests rapid recovery of biocrust photosynthesis across types. However, net carbon fixation rates varied from year to year, likely as a product of time since the last rain event and environmental conditions preceding collection, with moss crusts being most sensitive to environmental stress at our study sites. Discussion Given the complexity of patterns discovered in our study, it is especially important to consider a multitude of factors when comparing biocrust carbon exchange rates across studies. Understanding the dynamics of biocrust carbon fixation in distinct crust types will enable greater precision of carbon cycling models and improved forecasting of impacts of global climate change on dryland carbon cycling and ecosystem functioning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mikaela R. Hoellrich
- Plant and Environmental Sciences, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM, United States
| | - Darren K. James
- USDA-ARS Jornada Experimental Range, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM, United States
| | - David Bustos
- US DOI White Sands National Park, Alamogordo, NM, United States
| | | | - Louis S. Santiago
- Botany and Plant Sciences, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA, United States
| | - Nicole Pietrasiak
- Plant and Environmental Sciences, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM, United States
- School of Life Sciences, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Las Vegas, NV, United States
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Jung P, van den Brink L, Gutiérrez Alvarado JL. Chilean biocrusts: an impetus for national park management. Trends Microbiol 2023; 31:544-547. [PMID: 37062624 DOI: 10.1016/j.tim.2023.03.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2023] [Revised: 03/08/2023] [Accepted: 03/20/2023] [Indexed: 04/18/2023]
Abstract
In a world threatened by climate change and biodiversity loss, Chile is one of the leading countries regarding national park management and nature conservation. While there are already protection strategies for plants and animals, it is now the time to include biocrusts, the microbial world at our feet that covers large parts of the soils from the Araucaria forests in the South of Chile to the Atacama Desert in the North.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick Jung
- Integrative Biotechnology, University of Applied Sciences, Kaiserslautern, Germany.
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Moia IC, Pereira SB, Domizio P, De Philippis R, Adessi A. Phormidium ambiguum and Leptolyngbya ohadii Exopolysaccharides under Low Water Availability. Polymers (Basel) 2023; 15:polym15081889. [PMID: 37112036 PMCID: PMC10142279 DOI: 10.3390/polym15081889] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2023] [Revised: 03/31/2023] [Accepted: 04/12/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Cyanobacteria can cope with various environmental stressors, due to the excretion of exopolysaccharides (EPS). However, little is known about how the composition of these polymers may change according to water availability. This work aimed at characterizing the EPS of Phormidium ambiguum (Oscillatoriales; Oscillatoriaceae) and Leptolyngbya ohadii (Pseudanabaenales; Leptolyngbyaceae), when grown as biocrusts and biofilms, subject to water deprivation. The following EPS fractions were quantified and characterized: soluble (loosely bound, LB) and condensed (tightly bound, TB) for biocrusts, released (RPS), and sheathed in P. ambiguum and glycocalyx (G-EPS) in L. ohadii for biofilms. For both cyanobacteria upon water deprivation, glucose was the main monosaccharide present and the amount of TB-EPS resulted was significantly higher, confirming its importance in these soil-based formations. Different profiles of monosaccharides composing the EPSs were observed, as for example the higher concentration of deoxysugars observed in biocrusts compared to biofilms, demonstrating the plasticity of the cells to modify EPS composition as a response to different stresses. For both cyanobacteria, both in biofilms and biocrusts, water deprivation induced the production of simpler carbohydrates, with an increased dominance index of the composing monosaccharides. The results obtained are useful in understanding how these very relevant cyanobacterial species are sensitively modifying the EPS secreted when subject to water deprivation and could lead to consider them as suitable inoculants in degraded soils.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabela C Moia
- DAGRI-Department of Agriculture, Food, Environment and Forestry, University of Florence, Via Maragliano 77, 50144 Firenze, Italy
| | - Sara B Pereira
- i3S-Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Rua Alfredo Allen, 208, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
- IBMC-Instituto de Biologia Celular e Molecular, Universidade do Porto, Rua Alfredo Allen, 208, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
| | - Paola Domizio
- DAGRI-Department of Agriculture, Food, Environment and Forestry, University of Florence, Via Maragliano 77, 50144 Firenze, Italy
| | - Roberto De Philippis
- DAGRI-Department of Agriculture, Food, Environment and Forestry, University of Florence, Via Maragliano 77, 50144 Firenze, Italy
| | - Alessandra Adessi
- DAGRI-Department of Agriculture, Food, Environment and Forestry, University of Florence, Via Maragliano 77, 50144 Firenze, Italy
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Zhang Q, Li J, Zhang S, Li Y, Wu N, Zhou X, Yin B, Zhang Y. Differentiate responses of soil nutrient levels and enzymatic activities to freeze-thawing cycles in different layers of moss-dominated biocrusts in a temperate desert. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2023; 14:1137754. [PMID: 36950359 PMCID: PMC10025502 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2023.1137754] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2023] [Accepted: 02/20/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The biological soil crust, a widespread phenomenon in arid and semi-arid regions, influences many ecological functions, such as soil stability, surface hydrology, and biogeochemical cycling. Global climate change has significantly altered winter and spring freeze-thaw cycles (FTCs) in mid and high-latitude deserts. However, it is unclear how these changes will affect the biological soil crust and its influence on nutrient cycling and soil enzyme activity. METHODS We conducted this study in the Gurbantunggut Desert, a typical temperate desert, using the moss crust as an example of an evolved biological soil crust. Simulating the effects of different FTC frequencies (0, 5, and 15 times) on soil carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus-related nutrients, and extracellular enzyme activities allowed us to understand the relationship between soil environmental factors and nutrient multifunctionality during FTC changes. RESULTS The results showed that recurrent FTCs significantly increased the accumulation of carbon and phosphorus nutrients in the soil and decreased the effectiveness of nitrogen nutrients. These changes gradually stabilized after 15 FTCs, with available nutrients showing greater sensitivity than the previous full nutrient level. FTCs inhibited carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus cycle-related hydrolase activities and promoted carbon cycle-related oxidase activities in the crust layer. However, in the 0-3 cm layer, the carbon and phosphorus cycle-related hydrolase activities increased, while peroxidase and urease activities decreased. Overall, the nutrient contents and enzyme activities associated with the carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus cycles were lower in the 0-3 cm layer than in the crust layer. In addition, the multifunctionality of nutrients in the soil decreased after 15 FTCs in the crust layer and increased after 5 FTCs in the 0-3 cm layer. Structural equation modeling showed that FTC, soil water content, pH, available nutrients, and extracellular enzyme activity had opposite effects on nutrient multifunctionality in different soil layers. The change in nutrient multifunctionality in the crust layer was primarily caused by changes in total nutrients, while soil water content played a greater role in the 0-3 cm layer. Regardless of the soil layer, the contribution of total nutrients was much higher than the contribution of available nutrients and extracellular enzyme activity. In conclusion, it is essential to consider different soil layers when studying the effects of global climate change on the nutrient cycling of the biological soil crust.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qing Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Desert and Oasis Ecology, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi, China
| | - Jiwen Li
- State Key Laboratory of Desert and Oasis Ecology, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi, China
- Key Laboratory of Crop Nutrition and Fertilization, Ministry of Agricultural/Institute of Agricultural Resources and Regional Planning, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Shujun Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Desert and Oasis Ecology, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi, China
- College of Life Science and Technology, Xinjiang University, Urumqi, China
| | - Yonggang Li
- State Key Laboratory of Desert and Oasis Ecology, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi, China
| | - Nan Wu
- Yantai Key Laboratory of Coastal Hydrological Processes and Environmental Security, Ludong University, Yantai, Shandong, China
| | - Xiaobing Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Desert and Oasis Ecology, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi, China
| | - Benfeng Yin
- State Key Laboratory of Desert and Oasis Ecology, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi, China
| | - Yuanming Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Desert and Oasis Ecology, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi, China
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Pérez-Uz B, Galfione VC, Ochoa-Hueso R, Martín-Cereceda M. Protist Diversity Responses to Experimental N Deposition in Biological Crusts of a Semiarid Mediterranean Ecosystem. Protist 2023; 174:125929. [PMID: 36455480 DOI: 10.1016/j.protis.2022.125929] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2022] [Revised: 11/03/2022] [Accepted: 11/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Biological soil crusts (BSC) are associations of different macro and microorganisms and aggregated soil particles located on the surface of soils in many different habitats. BSC harbour a diverse and complex community of ciliates and testate amoebae. These phagotrophic protists play an important role in C and N recycling in soil ecosystems but have not been frequently studied in BSC. In this context, the effects of three increasing N inputs on ciliates and testate amoebae in crusts from a semi-arid Mediterranean ecosystem were evaluated. A field experiment with artificial N-deposition was designed to mimic the effects caused by anthropogenic N depositions. The results have shown that the protist populations of these semi-arid Mediterranean environments have lower species richness than other soil environments. The increase in N produces a net loss of diversity in the populations studied and shifts in the community structure. It has also been shown that some ciliates and testate amoebae, due to their population responses to increased N concentrations, could potentially be used as bio-indicators of N contamination in these BSCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Blanca Pérez-Uz
- Dept. Genética, Fisiología y Microbiología, Fac. Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain.
| | - Virginia C Galfione
- Dept. Genética, Fisiología y Microbiología, Fac. Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Raul Ochoa-Hueso
- Instituto de Investigación Vitivinicola y Agroalimentaria, Universidad de Cádiz, Puerto Real, Spain
| | - Mercedes Martín-Cereceda
- Dept. Genética, Fisiología y Microbiología, Fac. Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
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Marasco R, Ramond JB, Van Goethem MW, Rossi F, Daffonchio D. Diamonds in the rough: Dryland microorganisms are ecological engineers to restore degraded land and mitigate desertification. Microb Biotechnol 2023. [PMID: 36641786 PMCID: PMC10364308 DOI: 10.1111/1751-7915.14216] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2022] [Accepted: 01/03/2023] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Our planet teeters on the brink of massive ecosystem collapses, and arid regions experience manifold environmental and climatic challenges that increase the magnitude of selective pressures on already stressed ecosystems. Ultimately, this leads to their aridification and desertification, that is, to simplified and barren ecosystems (with proportionally less microbial load and diversity) with altered functions and food webs and modification of microbial community network. Thus, preserving and restoring soil health in such a fragile biome could help buffer climate change's effects. We argue that microorganisms and the protection of their functional properties and networks are key to fight desertification. Specifically, we claim that it is rational, possible and certainly practical to rely on native dryland edaphic microorganisms and microbial communities as well as dryland plants and their associated microbiota to conserve and restore soil health and mitigate soil depletion in newly aridified lands. Furthermore, this will meet the objective of protecting/stabilizing (and even enhancing) soil biodiversity globally. Without urgent conservation and restoration actions that take into account microbial diversity, we will ultimately, and simply, not have anything to protect anymore.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ramona Marasco
- King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Biological and Environmental Sciences and Engineering Division (BESE), Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
| | - Jean-Baptiste Ramond
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Marc W Van Goethem
- King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Biological and Environmental Sciences and Engineering Division (BESE), Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
| | - Federico Rossi
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Agro-Environmental Sciences, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Daniele Daffonchio
- King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Biological and Environmental Sciences and Engineering Division (BESE), Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
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Szyja M, Felde VJMNL, Lückel S, Tabarelli M, Leal IR, Büdel B, Wirth R. Biological soil crusts decrease infiltration but increase erosion resistance in a human-disturbed tropical dry forest. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1136322. [PMID: 37152745 PMCID: PMC10157249 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1136322] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2023] [Accepted: 03/20/2023] [Indexed: 05/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Under continuous human disturbance, regeneration is the basis for biodiversity persistence and ecosystem service provision. In tropical dry forests, edaphic ecosystem engineering by biological soil crusts (biocrusts) could impact regeneration by influencing erosion control and soil water and nutrient fluxes, which impact landscape hydrology, geomorphology, and ecosystem functioning. This study investigated the effect of cyanobacteria-dominated biocrusts on water infiltration and aggregate stability in a human-modified landscape of the Caatinga dry forest (NE Brazil), a system characterized by high levels of forest degradation and increasing aridity. By trapping dust and swelling of cyanobacterial filaments, biocrusts can seal soil surfaces and slow down infiltration, which potentially induces erosion. To quantify hydraulic properties and erosion control, we used minidisc-infiltrometry, raindrop-simulation, and wet sieving at two sites with contrasting disturbance levels: an active cashew plantation and an abandoned field experiencing forest regeneration, both characterized by sandy soils. Under disturbance, biocrusts had a stronger negative impact on infiltration (reduction by 42% vs. 37% during regeneration), although biocrusts under regenerating conditions had the lowest absolute sorptivity (0.042 ± 0.02 cm s-1/2) and unsaturated hydraulic conductivity (0.0015 ± 0.0008 cm s-1), with a doubled water repellency. Biocrusts provided high soil aggregate stability although stability increased considerably with progression of biocrust succession (raindrop simulation disturbed: 0.19 ± 0.22 J vs. regenerating: 0.54 ± 0.22 J). The formation of stable aggregates by early successional biocrusts on sandy soils suggests protection of dry forest soils even on the worst land use/soil degradation scenario with a high soil erosion risk. Our results confirm that biocrusts covering bare interspaces between vascular plants in human-modified landscapes play an important role in surface water availability and erosion control. Biocrusts have the potential to reduce land degradation, but their associated ecosystem services like erosion protection, can be impaired by disturbance. Considering an average biocrust coverage of 8.1% of the Caatinga landscapes, further research should aim to quantify the contribution of biocrusts to forest recovery to fully understand the role they play in the functioning of this poorly explored ecosystem.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michelle Szyja
- Molecular Botany (Plant Ecology Group), University of Kaiserslautern, Kaiserslautern, Germany
| | - Vincent J. M. N. L. Felde
- Institute of Soil Science, Leibniz University Hannover, Hanover, Germany
- *Correspondence: Vincent J. M. N. L. Felde,
| | - Sara Lückel
- Department of Soil Science, Faculty of Organic Agricultural Sciences, Kassel University, Witzenhausen, Germany
| | - Marcelo Tabarelli
- Departamento de Botânica, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil
| | - Inara R. Leal
- Departamento de Botânica, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil
| | - Burkhard Büdel
- Molecular Botany (Plant Ecology Group), University of Kaiserslautern, Kaiserslautern, Germany
| | - Rainer Wirth
- Molecular Botany (Plant Ecology Group), University of Kaiserslautern, Kaiserslautern, Germany
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García-Carmona M, Lepinay C, García-Orenes F, Baldrian P, Arcenegui V, Cajthaml T, Mataix-Solera J. Moss biocrust accelerates the recovery and resilience of soil microbial communities in fire-affected semi-arid Mediterranean soils. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 846:157467. [PMID: 35868386 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.157467] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2022] [Revised: 07/11/2022] [Accepted: 07/14/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
After wildfires in Mediterranean ecosystems, ruderal mosses are pioneer species, stabilizing the soil surface previous to the establishment of vascular vegetation. However, little is known about the implication of pioneer moss biocrusts for the recovery and resilience of soils in early post-fire stages in semi-arid areas. Therefore, we studied the effects of the burgeoning biocrust on soil physicochemical and biochemical properties and the diversity and composition of microbial communities after a moderate-to-high wildfire severity. Seven months after the wildfire, the biocrust softened the strong impact of the fire in soils, affecting the diversity and composition of bacteria and fungi community compared to the uncrusted soils exposed to unfavourable environmental stress. Soil moisture, phosphorous, and enzyme activities representing the altered biogeochemical cycles after the fire, were the main explanatory variables for biocrust microbial community composition under the semi-arid conditions. High bacterial diversity was found in soils under mosses, while long-lasting legacies are expected in the fungal community, which showed greater sensitivity to the fire. The composition of bacterial and fungal communities at several taxonomical levels was profoundly altered by the presence of the moss biocrust, showing a rapid successional transition toward the unburned soil community. Pioneer moss biocrust play an important role improving the resilience of soil microbial communities. In the context of increasing fire intensity, studying the moss biocrust effects on the recovery of soils microbiome is essential to understanding the resistance and resilience of Mediterranean forests to wildfires.
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Affiliation(s)
- Minerva García-Carmona
- GEA-Environmental Soil Science Group, Department of Agrochemistry and Environment, Universidad Miguel Hernández, Avenida de la Universidad s/n, 03202 Elche, Spain.
| | - Clémentine Lepinay
- Institute of Microbiology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Videnska 1083, 14220 Praha 4, Czech Republic
| | - Fuensanta García-Orenes
- GEA-Environmental Soil Science Group, Department of Agrochemistry and Environment, Universidad Miguel Hernández, Avenida de la Universidad s/n, 03202 Elche, Spain
| | - Petr Baldrian
- Institute of Microbiology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Videnska 1083, 14220 Praha 4, Czech Republic
| | - Victoria Arcenegui
- GEA-Environmental Soil Science Group, Department of Agrochemistry and Environment, Universidad Miguel Hernández, Avenida de la Universidad s/n, 03202 Elche, Spain
| | - Tomáš Cajthaml
- Institute of Microbiology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Videnska 1083, 14220 Praha 4, Czech Republic
| | - Jorge Mataix-Solera
- GEA-Environmental Soil Science Group, Department of Agrochemistry and Environment, Universidad Miguel Hernández, Avenida de la Universidad s/n, 03202 Elche, Spain
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Zhang S, Zhang Q, Liu Z, Mamtimin S, Zhou X, Yin B, Zhang Y. Long-term snow alters the sensitivity of nonstructural carbohydrates of Syntrichia caninervis to snow cover: Based on a 7-year experiment. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2022; 13:999584. [PMID: 36311058 PMCID: PMC9614234 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2022.999584] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2022] [Accepted: 09/01/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
The dynamics of nonstructural carbohydrates (NSC) profoundly affect productivity and ecological adaptability to adversity in plants. Global warming induced the frequent occurrence of extreme precipitation events that altered the winter snow pattern in deserts. However, there is a lack of understanding of how desert mosses respond to long-term snow cover change at the NSC level. Therefore, in this study, long-term (7-years) winter snow removal (-S), ambient snow (CK), and double snow (+S) experiments were set in the field to investigate the content of NSC and its component in Syntrichia Caninervis. Our results showed that changes in snow depth, snow years, and their interaction significantly affected NSC and its component of Syntrichia caninervis. Compared to snow removal, NSC, soluble sugar, and starch significantly decreased with the increasing snow depth. The ratio of soluble sugar to starch significantly increased, while NSC and soluble sugar gradually returned to the normal level with an increase in snow years. It is worth mentioning that snow removal significantly reduced the soluble sugar to starch ratio compared to ambient snow depth, whereas the double snow experiment significantly increased the ratio of soluble sugar to starch during winter. This indicated an obvious trade-off between carbon utilization and carbon storage in Syntrichia caninervis. Snow removal stimulated Syntrichia caninervis to store sufficient carbon sources by starch accumulation for its future growth, while double snow promoted its current growth by soluble sugar accumulation. The variance in decomposition showed that soil physical and chemical properties, snow cover, and their interaction explained 83% of the variation in NSC and its components, with soil and plant water content, pH, and electrical conductivity (P-WC, S-WC, S-pH, and S-EC) as significant predictors. This highlights that snow indirectly affected NSC and its component contents by changing soil physical and chemical properties; however, long-term changes in snow cover could slow down its sensitivity to snow.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shujun Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Desert and Oasis Ecology, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi, China
- Xinjiang Key Laboratory of Biological Resources and Genetic Engineering, College of Life Science and Technology, Xinjiang University, Urumqi, China
| | - Qing Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Desert and Oasis Ecology, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi, China
| | - Ziyi Liu
- Department of Geography, Economics and Geography-BSc(Econ), University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Sulayman Mamtimin
- Xinjiang Key Laboratory of Biological Resources and Genetic Engineering, College of Life Science and Technology, Xinjiang University, Urumqi, China
| | - Xiaobing Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Desert and Oasis Ecology, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi, China
| | - Benfeng Yin
- State Key Laboratory of Desert and Oasis Ecology, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi, China
| | - Yuanming Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Desert and Oasis Ecology, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi, China
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