Soil bacterial networks are less stable under drought than fungal networks

Franciska T. Vries (), Rob I. Griffiths, Mark Bailey, Hayley Craig, Mariangela Girlanda, Hyun Soon Gweon, Sara Hallin, Aurore Kaisermann, Aidan M. Keith, Marina Kretzschmar, Philippe Lemanceau, Erica Lumini, Kelly E. Mason, Anna Oliver, Nick Ostle, James I. Prosser, Cecile Thion, Bruce Thomson and Richard D. Bardgett
Additional contact information
Franciska T. Vries: The University of Manchester
Rob I. Griffiths: Centre for Ecology & Hydrology Wallingford
Mark Bailey: Centre for Ecology & Hydrology Wallingford
Hayley Craig: The University of Manchester
Mariangela Girlanda: University of Torino
Hyun Soon Gweon: Centre for Ecology & Hydrology Wallingford
Sara Hallin: Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
Aurore Kaisermann: The University of Manchester
Aidan M. Keith: Centre for Ecology & Hydrology Lancaster
Marina Kretzschmar: Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
Philippe Lemanceau: Univ. Bourgogne Franche-Comté
Erica Lumini: CNR—Institute for Sustainable Plant Protection
Kelly E. Mason: Centre for Ecology & Hydrology Lancaster
Anna Oliver: Centre for Ecology & Hydrology Wallingford
Nick Ostle: Lancaster University
James I. Prosser: University of Aberdeen
Cecile Thion: University of Aberdeen
Bruce Thomson: Centre for Ecology & Hydrology Wallingford
Richard D. Bardgett: The University of Manchester

Nature Communications, 2018, vol. 9, issue 1, 1-12

Abstract: Abstract Soil microbial communities play a crucial role in ecosystem functioning, but it is unknown how co-occurrence networks within these communities respond to disturbances such as climate extremes. This represents an important knowledge gap because changes in microbial networks could have implications for their functioning and vulnerability to future disturbances. Here, we show in grassland mesocosms that drought promotes destabilising properties in soil bacterial, but not fungal, co-occurrence networks, and that changes in bacterial communities link more strongly to soil functioning during recovery than do changes in fungal communities. Moreover, we reveal that drought has a prolonged effect on bacterial communities and their co-occurrence networks via changes in vegetation composition and resultant reductions in soil moisture. Our results provide new insight in the mechanisms through which drought alters soil microbial communities with potential long-term consequences, including future plant community composition and the ability of aboveground and belowground communities to withstand future disturbances.

Date: 2018
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-05516-7

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