Soil microbiomes show consistent and predictable responses to extreme events

Christopher G. Knight (), Océane Nicolitch, Rob I. Griffiths (), Tim Goodall, Briony Jones, Carolin Weser, Holly Langridge, John Davison, Ariane Dellavalle, Nico Eisenhauer, Konstantin B. Gongalsky, Andrew Hector, Emma Jardine, Paul Kardol, Fernando T. Maestre, Martin Schädler, Marina Semchenko, Carly Stevens, Maria Α. Tsiafouli, Oddur Vilhelmsson, Wolfgang Wanek and Franciska T. Vries ()
Additional contact information
Christopher G. Knight: University of Manchester
Océane Nicolitch: University of Manchester
Rob I. Griffiths: Bangor University
Tim Goodall: UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology (UKCEH)
Briony Jones: UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology (UKCEH)
Carolin Weser: University of Manchester
Holly Langridge: University of Manchester
John Davison: University of Tartu
Ariane Dellavalle: University of Manchester
Nico Eisenhauer: German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig
Konstantin B. Gongalsky: Russian Academy of Sciences
Andrew Hector: University of Oxford
Emma Jardine: University of Oxford
Paul Kardol: Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
Fernando T. Maestre: King Abdullah University of Science and Technology
Martin Schädler: German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig
Marina Semchenko: University of Manchester
Carly Stevens: Lancaster University
Maria Α. Tsiafouli: Aristotle University of Thessaloniki
Oddur Vilhelmsson: University of Akureyri
Wolfgang Wanek: University of Vienna
Franciska T. Vries: University of Manchester

Nature, 2024, vol. 636, issue 8043, 690-696

Abstract: Abstract Increasing extreme climatic events threaten the functioning of terrestrial ecosystems1,2. Because soil microbes govern key biogeochemical processes, understanding their response to climate extremes is crucial in predicting the consequences for ecosystem functioning3,4. Here we subjected soils from 30 grasslands across Europe to four contrasting extreme climatic events under common controlled conditions (drought, flood, freezing and heat), and compared the response of soil microbial communities and their functioning with those of undisturbed soils. Soil microbiomes exhibited a small, but highly consistent and phylogenetically conserved, response under the imposed extreme events. Heat treatment most strongly impacted soil microbiomes, enhancing dormancy and sporulation genes and decreasing metabolic versatility. Microbiome response to heat in particular could be predicted by local climatic conditions and soil properties, with soils that do not normally experience the extreme conditions being imposed being most vulnerable. Our results suggest that soil microbiomes from different climates share unified responses to extreme climatic events, but that predicting the extent of community change may require knowledge of the local microbiome. These findings advance our understanding of soil microbial responses to extreme events, and provide a first step for making general predictions about the impact of extreme climatic events on soil functioning.

Date: 2024
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DOI: 10.1038/s41586-024-08185-3

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