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Dryad

Raw sequence data and OTU tables of soil microorganisms obtained across a summit in the Lesotho highlands

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Feb 10, 2023 version files 2.16 GB

Abstract

Mountain regions represent unique environments characterized by strong topographical diversity which drive climatic and environmental variability within these environments. These regions thus provide an opportunity to explore the relationships between various environmental factors and soil microorganisms. In this study, we investigated the impact of micro-topographical (i.e., north/south-facing slope aspects and flat plateau between them) variations on microbial diversity and community structures across a Lesotho mountain summit.

Raw sequenced data were generated using the Illumina MiSeq platform on DNA extracted from soil samples collected across the plateau, north- and south-facing slopes. This data was then used for taxonomic classification of the bacterial and fungal OTUs for the determination of the alpha- and beta-diversity across the slopes. These analyses revealed that a relatively greater bacterial and fungal diversity could be observed for the north-facing slope compared to the south-facing slope and plateau. While there was no difference in group variance of bacterial and fungal community structures across the plateau, north- and south-facing slopes.

Multiple comparison analyses were conducted to determine the impact of various abiotic and geographical factors on bacterial and fungal diversity and community structures. These analyses indicated that the slope aspect significantly affects bacterial and fungal community structures at this location. These results provide an original insight into soil microbial diversity in the Lesotho highlands and offer an opportunity to investigate the response of soil microorganisms to changes in environmental and climatic factors in highly variable mountain environments such as the Lesotho highlands.