Soil plays a pivotal role in the distribution of plants, their traits and ecosystem functions in the French Alps

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Camille Martinez Almoyna ◽  
Wilfried Thuiller ◽  
Arnaud Foulquier ◽  
Sarah-Sophie Weil ◽  
Tamara Münkemüller
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Functional Traits ◽  
Plant Functional Traits ◽  
Ecosystem Functions ◽  
Soil Biodiversity ◽  
Microbial Decomposition ◽  
French Alps ◽  
Plant Distributions ◽  
Plant Soil ◽  
The Impact

<p>Experiments and observations have shown that plants and soil biotic and abiotic properties are linked by feedback loops at local scale, in particular because plant functional traits determine the decomposability of the organic matter, which in turn influences the availability of nutrients essential for plant growth. However, the influence of plant-soil linkages on plant distributions and ecosystem functions is understudied at large biogeographic scales.</p><p>Here, I present results of studies along 18 elevational gradients in the French Alps. In a first study, I show how the distributions of 44 plant species does not only depend on climate but also on soil physico-chemical properties and microbial decomposition activity and that plant functional traits play an important role in these distributions. Using hierarchical effects and multi-species distribution models, we found that, in addition to climate, the combination of soil C/N, as a measure of organic matter quality, and exoenzymatic activity, as a measure of microbial decomposition activity, strongly improved predictions of plant distributions. In accordance with the ‘fast-slow’ plant economics spectrum, species with conservative traits performed better under limiting nutrient conditions but were outcompeted by exploitative plants in more favorable environments, resulting in a spatial segregation of plants with different ecological strategies. In a second study, we moved from species to community level to estimate the impact of these plant-soil linkages on ecosystem functions. Using an undirect partial correlation network revealed that the influence of plant traits on the quality of organic matter links aboveground and belowground ecosystem functions. Finally, I show how specific soil trophic groups, notably saprophytic fungi, play key roles in these linkages. This result highlights that decomposition and the organisms involved in this process are the corner stone of ecosystem multifunctionality in nutrient depleted ecosystems such as mountains. Together these results highlight the importance of considering plants and soil biodiversity along with abiotic predictors for better understanding and modelling ecosystem processes and functions in a world where both climatic and soil systems are undergoing profound and rapid transformations.</p>

scholarly journals Plant functional traits determined the latitudinal variations in soil microbial functions: evidence from a forest transect in China

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhiwei Xu ◽  
Guirui Yu ◽  
Xinyu Zhang ◽  
Ruili Wang ◽  
Ning Zhao ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Microbial Community ◽  
Soil Organic Matter ◽  
Microbial Biomass ◽  
Functional Traits ◽  
Plant Functional Traits ◽  
Decomposition Rates ◽  
Substrate Use ◽  
Soil Microbial ◽  
Carbon Concentrations

Abstract. Plant functional traits have increasingly been studied as determinants of ecosystem properties, especially for soil biogeochemical processes. While the relationships between biological community structures and ecological functions are a central issue in ecological theory, these relationships remain poorly understood at the large scale. We selected nine forests along the North–South Transect of Eastern China (NSTEC) to determine how plant functional traits influence the latitudinal pattern of soil microbial functions, and how soil microbial communities and functions are linked at the regional scale. We found that there was considerable variation in the profiles of different substrate use along the NSTEC. Soil microorganisms from temperate forests mainly metabolized high-energy substrates, while those from subtropical forests used all the substrates equally. The soil silt content and plant functional traits together shaped the biogeographical pattern of the soil microbial substrate use. Soil organic matter decomposition rates were significantly higher in temperate forests than in subtropical and tropical forests, which was consistent with the pattern of soil microbial biomass carbon concentrations. Soil organic matter decomposition rates were also significantly and negatively related to soil dissolved organic carbon concentrations, and carboxylic acid, polymer, and miscellaneous substrates. The soil microbial community structures and functions were significantly correlated along the NSTEC. Soil carbohydrate and polymer substrate use were mainly related to soil G+ bacterial and actinomycetes biomass, while the use of amine and miscellaneous substrates were related to soil G− bacteria, fungal biomass, and the F/B ratio. The contributions of different groups of microbial biomass to the production of soil enzyme activities differed. The relationship between soil microbial community structure and functions supported that there was functional dissimilarity.

Tree species from Andean forest are complementary in their effect on ecohydrological processes

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura V. Cano-Arboleda ◽  
Juan Camilo Villegas ◽  
Aura Cristina Restrepo ◽  
Elizabeth Ocampo-Montoya ◽  
Estela Quintero-Vallejo
Keyword(s):  
Functional Traits ◽  
Temporal Variability ◽  
Biological Diversity ◽  
Plant Functional Traits ◽  
Ecosystem Functions ◽  
Radiation Balance ◽  
Complementary Effect ◽  
Complete Study ◽  
Ecological Criteria ◽  
Ecohydrological Processes

<p>Vegetation affects water balance partitioning via effects on incoming precipitation, local radiation balance and hydrological dynamics of soil. The extent of these effects is determined by plant functional traits. Commonly, the role of plant species on hydrological regulation has been assessed considering vegetation as homogeneous cover, even more, that approach underestimates the importance of species in this process. Nevertheless, in recent years, new focus has been placed on species study based on their functional traits and their roles in ecosystem functions as hydrological regulation. Still new tendencies are considering vegetation cover consisting of different species, each of them having different effects on hydrological regulation because they have different functional traits. In an 8-year old ecosystem restoration project established in Medellín (Colombia), we explored the relations between plant functional traits of 10 dominant species and ecohydrological processes that determine precipitation partitioning in the canopy via stemflow and throughfall. Here we show that functional traits describing tree crowns are significantly related with stemflow and throughfall. Our species exhibit differences in their functional traits and ecohydrological processes, forming a gradient of variation of ecohydrological processes and crown functional traits: from wide and less dense crowns in <em>Alnus acuminata</em> to smaller but more dense crowns in <em>Quercus humboldtii</em>, related with less throughfall temporal variability, and less stemflow temporal variability, respectively; the other species are placed along this gradient. This result suggests a complementary effect of species on the hydrological processes and consequently on the hydrological function, highlighting the importance of considering species diversity on hydrological regulation assessment. More specifically, our results emphasize the need to include information about the effects of species planted in ecological restoration projects over ecohydrological processes, via ecological criteria such as plant functional traits. This approach permits a more objective and complete study of hydrological regulation that brings key information for an adequate ecosystem management and restoration based on ecological roles of species that, through biological diversity, optimize ecosystem functions and services.</p>

scholarly journals Diversity and asynchrony in soil microbial communities stabilizes ecosystem functioning

eLife ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cameron Wagg ◽  
Yann Hautier ◽  
Sarah Pellkofer ◽  
Samiran Banerjee ◽  
Bernhard Schmid ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Microbial Diversity ◽  
Ecosystem Functioning ◽  
Temporal Stability ◽  
Soil Microbial Communities ◽  
Ecosystem Functions ◽  
Soil Microbial Diversity ◽  
Soil Biodiversity ◽  
Soil Microbial ◽  
Plant Soil ◽  
Soil Mesocosms

Theoretical and empirical advances have revealed the importance of biodiversity for stabilizing ecosystem functions through time. Despite the global degradation of soils, whether the loss of soil microbial diversity can destabilize ecosystem functioning is poorly understood. Here, we experimentally quantified the contribution of soil fungal and bacterial communities to the temporal stability of four key ecosystem functions related to biogeochemical cycling. Microbial diversity enhanced the temporal stability of all ecosystem functions and this pattern was particularly strong in plant-soil mesocosms with reduced microbial richness where over 50% of microbial taxa were lost. The stabilizing effect of soil biodiversity was linked to asynchrony among microbial taxa whereby different soil fungi and bacteria promoted different ecosystem functions at different times. Our results emphasize the need to conserve soil biodiversity for the provisioning of multiple ecosystem functions that soils provide to the society.

The EXCALIBUR project: novel microbial-based bioproducts improving soil biodiversity and the effectiveness of biocontrol and biofertilization practices in horticulture

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stefano Mocali ◽  
Loredana Canfora ◽  
Flavia Pinzari ◽  
Eligio Malusà
Keyword(s):  
Management Practices ◽  
Cropping Systems ◽  
Process Analysis ◽  
Integrated Approach ◽  
Molecular Techniques ◽  
Ecosystem Functions ◽  
Soil Biodiversity ◽  
The Road ◽  
Plant Soil ◽  
New Strategy

<p>The H2020 project Excalibur will be presented. It has the ambition of making the road to a biodiversity-driven change in the soil management of crops through the acknowledgement of the important role of soil biodiversity conservation and exploitation. The project applies integrated approach of research, development and field implementation to achieve its goals. Excalibur will deploy the knowledge gained by new molecular techniques, such as genomic sequences characteristics to specific groups of microorganisms and functions, in the creation of tools, indicators and evaluation systems. Co- innovation is fostered by collaboration of researchers with farmers and manufacturers, with a mutual exchange of information and feedback. Project’s results will bring new insights and practical solutions to stakeholders, validated by process analysis. For this purpose Excalibur plans to: 1) focus on multiscale plant-soil-microbes interactions be to exploit the potential of multifunctional bio-inocula and bio-effectors; 2) optimize the formulation and the application methods of these products based on native soil biodiversity dynamics; 3) develop a strategy to improve the exploitation of soil biodiversity interactions with bio-effectors and bio-inocula by assessing their impacts on crops and biodiversity under contrasting agricultural management practices (conventional, organic) and biotic/abiotic stress conditions; 4) to build a multi-criteria model to assess soil biodiversity status of cropping systems for a more efficient use of bio-effectors and bio-inocula; 5) develop technical tools to monitor the persistence and dispersion of bio-inocula under field conditions for eco-toxicological and agronomical purposes; 6) evaluate the effects of the new strategy on economy, environment quality and ecosystem functions; 7) disseminate results to all stakeholders with a dynamic and comprehensive methodology and encourage the adoption of best practices derived from the new strategy at local, regional and global level.</p>

scholarly journals Do soil aggregates really protect encapsulated organic matter against microbial decomposition?

Biologia ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 64 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Marc-O. Goebel ◽  
Susanne Woche ◽  
Jörg Bachmann
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Soil Aggregates ◽  
Arable Land ◽  
Carbon Mineralization ◽  
Arable Soils ◽  
Labile Organic Matter ◽  
Clear Trend ◽  
Crushed Material ◽  
Microbial Decomposition ◽  
The Impact

AbstractSoil aggregates can provide an effective protection of organic matter against microbial decomposition as reported by several macroaggregate disruption studies. However, research on the role of aggregation for carbon mineralization was mainly focused on arable soils. In the present study we aim to clarify the impact of aggregation on organic matter protection by measuring carbon mineralization in terms of microbial respiration rates of intact macroaggregates (2–4 and 4–8 mm) and corresponding crushed aggregates from seven topsoil horizons from both arable and forest sites. For two arable and one forest soil we found a significantly (P < 0.001) lower carbon mineralization from intact aggregates as compared to the corresponding crushed material. The portion of aggregate protected carbon reached up to 30% for a grassland soil. For the other arable and forest soils no significant effect of aggregation was found. Similarly, no clear trend could be found for the protective capacity of different size fractions. We conclude that protection by aggregation is effective primarily for soils with a large pool of labile organic matter regardless of their usage as arable land or forest.

scholarly journals Warming and elevated CO2 promote incorporation of plant-derived lipids into soil organic matter in a spruce-dominated ombrotrophic bog

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ofiti O.E. Nicholas ◽  
Zosso U. Cyrill ◽  
Solly F. Emily ◽  
Hanson J. Paul ◽  
Wiesenberg L.B. Guido ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Fatty Acids ◽  
Organic Matter ◽  
Soil Organic Matter ◽  
Land Surface ◽  
Stable Carbon Isotopes ◽  
Specific Response ◽  
Microbial Decomposition ◽  
Short Period ◽  
Bulk Organic Matter ◽  
The Impact

&lt;p&gt;More than one third of global soil organic matter (SOM) is stored in peatlands, despite them occupying less than 3% of the land surface. Increasing global temperatures have the potential to stimulate the decomposition of carbon stored in peatlands, contributing to the release of disproportionate amounts of greenhouse gases to the atmosphere but increasing atmospheric CO&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt; concentrations may stimulate photosynthesis and return C into ecosystems. &amp;#160;Key questions remain about the magnitude and rate of these interacting and opposite processes to environmental change drivers.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;We assessed the impact of a 0&amp;#8211;9&amp;#176;C temperature gradient of deep peat warming (4&amp;#160;years of warming; 0-200 cm depth) in ambient or elevated CO&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt; (2 years of +500 ppm CO&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt; addition) on the quantity and quality of SOM at the climate change manipulation experiment SPRUCE (Spruce and Peatland Responses Under Changing Environments) in Minnesota USA. We assessed how warming and elevated CO&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt; affect the degradation of plant and microbial residues as well as the incorporation of these compounds into SOM. Specifically, we combined the analyses of free extractable &lt;em&gt;n&lt;/em&gt;-alkanes and fatty acids together with measurements of compound-specific stable carbon isotopes (&amp;#948;&lt;sup&gt;13&lt;/sup&gt;C).&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;We observed a 6&amp;#8240; offset in &amp;#948;&lt;sup&gt;13&lt;/sup&gt;C between bulk SOM and &lt;em&gt;n&lt;/em&gt;-alkanes, which were uniformly depleted in &amp;#948;&lt;sup&gt;13&lt;/sup&gt;C when compared to bulk organic matter. Such an offset between SOM and &lt;em&gt;n&lt;/em&gt;-alkanes is common due to biosynthetic isotope fractionation processes and confirms previous findings. After 4&amp;#160;years of deep peat warming, and 2 years of elevated CO&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt; addition a strong depth-specific response became visible with changes in SOM quantity and quality. In the upper 0-30 cm depth, individual &lt;em&gt;n&lt;/em&gt;-alkanes and fatty acid concentrations declined with increasing temperatures with warming treatments, but not below 50 cm depth. In turn, the &amp;#948;&lt;sup&gt;13&lt;/sup&gt;C values of bulk organic matter and of individual &lt;em&gt;n&lt;/em&gt;-alkanes and fatty acids increased in the upper 0-30 cm with increasing temperatures, but not below 50 cm depth. Thus &lt;em&gt;n&lt;/em&gt;-alkanes, which typically turnover slower than bulk SOM, underwent a rapid transformation after a relatively short period of simulated warming in the acrotelm. Our results suggest that warming accelerated microbial decomposition of plant-derived lipids, leaving behind more degraded organic matter. The non-uniform, and depth dependent warming response implies that warming will have cascading effects on SOM decomposition in the acrotelm in peatlands. It remains to be seen how fast the catotelm will respond to rising temperatures and atmospheric CO&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt; concentrations.&lt;/p&gt;

Effect of geographical range size on plant functional traits and the relationships between plant, soil and climate in Chinese grasslands

2011 ◽  
Vol 21 (4) ◽  
pp. 416-427 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yan Geng ◽  
Zhiheng Wang ◽  
Cunzhu Liang ◽  
Jingyun Fang ◽  
Frank Baumann ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Functional Traits ◽  
Range Size ◽  
Plant Functional Traits ◽  
Geographical Range ◽  
Plant Soil

scholarly journals The impact of soil temperature increase on organic matter and faunal properties in a frozen calcareous scree in the French Alps

Geoderma ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 146 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 239-247 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nathalie Cassagne ◽  
Thomas Spiegelberger ◽  
Lauric Cécillon ◽  
Bernard Juvy ◽  
Jean-Jacques Brun
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Soil Temperature ◽  
Temperature Increase ◽  
French Alps ◽  
The Impact

Soil microbial responses to passive restoration strategies in drylands: a temporal comparison of soil biodiversity and ecosystem function

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jana Stewart ◽  
Nathali Machado de Lima ◽  
Richard Kingsford ◽  
Miriam Muñoz-Rojas
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Environmental Indicators ◽  
Ecosystem Functions ◽  
Rrna Gene ◽  
Research Station ◽  
Microbial Composition ◽  
Soil Biodiversity ◽  
Passive Restoration ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Over Time

&lt;p&gt;Arid and semi-arid (from hereafter dryland) ecosystems cover 70% of Australia, with climate change set to increase this area through desertification. Increased temperatures and reduced water availability are compounded through agricultural overgrazing. This degradation and habitat loss has led to biodiversity loss which disrupts the biogeochemical cycles that maintain these environments, creating a negative feedback loop, and making restoration efforts largely unsuccessful. With soil microbes being important drivers in dryland systems, understanding how different stressors impact the soil biome is needed to improve conservation and restoration efforts and promote resilience and resistance to climate change. Particularly lacking is understanding of these interactions over time.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Fowlers Gap Research Station is the only research station in the arid zone of Australia and was a working sheep station until 2019. Due to agricultural overgrazing the site is largely degraded however exclusion zones have been set up on the property ranging in time from 3 years to 40 years. These exclusion zones provide a powerful comparison for the impact of soil degradation on drylands. To investigate the impact of overgrazing on the soil biodiversity and ecosystem functions, we selected three of the exclusion zones paired with three degraded sites directly outside of the exclusion zone to assess their microbial composition and functional diversity, along with soil physicochemical properties. We aim to build 16S rRNA gene libraries and co-relate them with the soil chemical variables, to assess the impact of overgrazing on these microbial communities and the ecosystem functions they provide. This knowledge can be used to improve monitoring of conservation and restoration initiatives by providing environmental indicators for soil health over time.&lt;/p&gt;

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