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Water availability creates global thresholds in multidimensional soil biodiversity and functions
Jianwei Zhang1,2, Youzhi Feng3,4,5, Fernando T Maestre6,7
1College of Chemical Engineering, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, China.
Nature Ecology & Evolution
|May 11, 2023
Summary
Soil biodiversity and functions are globally influenced by water availability, with critical shifts occurring at specific thresholds. Understanding these patterns is vital for maintaining essential ecosystem services.
Area of Science:
- Soil ecology
- Global biogeochemistry
- Biodiversity science
Background:
- Soils host significant biodiversity and provide essential ecosystem functions.
- Environmental thresholds influence vegetation patterns, but their impact on soil organisms and functions remains unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if environmental thresholds predict soil biodiversity and function distribution across global biomes.
- To identify key environmental drivers of soil biodiversity and functions worldwide.
Main Methods:
- Conducted a global field survey across 383 diverse sites.
- Analyzed soil biodiversity (bacteria, fungi, protists, invertebrates) and functions.
- Correlated soil data with climatic and vegetation conditions, focusing on water availability.
Main Results:
- Soil biodiversity and functions showed widespread nonlinear patterns globally.
- Water availability (precipitation and evapotranspiration) was the primary governing factor.
- Altered water availability caused significant shifts in soil organisms and ecosystem functions like carbon sequestration and nutrient cycling.
Conclusions:
- Specific water availability thresholds critically impact soil biodiversity and functions.
- These thresholds have profound consequences for ecosystem services essential for planetary health.
- Findings underscore the vulnerability of soil ecosystems to changing water regimes.
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