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Multifaceted precipitation patterns impact biocrust functionality in drylands: A cascade of variability via species replacement in soil microbiota

Guo, Xiaoyu1; Li, Hua1; Wang, Zuowen1; Yang, Haijian1; Wang, Weibo2; Song, Lirong1; Hu, Chunxiang1

Published Nov 20, 2024 on Dryad. https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.ns1rn8q2z

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Abstract

Aim: The pervasive impacts of climate change on the biodiversity and functionality in arid ecosystems are increasingly evident in the Anthropocene. Although soil microbes are anticipated to be sensitive to changes in precipitation regimes, the mechanisms through which multifaceted precipitation variances impair the current delivery of multiple functions by multitrophic microbiota remain largely unexplored. Here, we examined the direct effects of historical precipitation regimes on the multifunctionality and their indirect impacts mediated by soil microorganisms in drylands.

Location: Northwestern China.

Time period: Precipitation records (1979-2016); Field investigation in 2020.

Major taxa studied: Multitrophic microbiota in biocrusts.

Methods: We evaluated a 38-year daily precipitation across the arid regions to quantify its multifaceted characteristics, including mean amount, frequency, and variability. The community structures of heterotrophic bacteria, eukaryotic fungi, and photoautotrophic cyanobacteria were determined through amplicon sequencing, aimed to measure taxonomic and phylogenetic α-diversity, as well as spatial turnover in soil microbiota. We explored the interactive linkages between precipitation impacts and diversity effects on soil multifunctionality.

Results: We found that α-richness exerted positive functional influences, but phylogenetic dissimilarity was a more important predictor in photoautotrophs. Species replacement, as a component of β-diversity, consistently enhanced the multifunctional dissimilarity and asynchrony of biocrusts. The legacy effect of historical precipitation variability, rather than annual precipitation, emerged as a primary driver on a convergence of less beneficial species, thereby promoting the variance in soil functioning. Importantly, the findings illuminated a cascading effect of precipitation regimes regulated by multifaceted diversity, which potentially magnifies their influences on vulnerable arid habitats.

Main conclusions: Our study highlighted the importance of precipitation variability and the indirect climate impact via soil microbiota. It contributes to a deeper understanding of the real-world consequences of altered precipitation on drylands, providing valuable insights for more accurate modeling of global change.