The relationship between protist consumers and soil functional genes under long-term fertilization

Area of Science:

• Soil Ecology
• Microbial Ecology
• Biogeochemistry

Background:

• Protists are vital to terrestrial ecosystems, influencing biogeochemical cycles and overall ecological stability.
• Understanding the specific interactions between soil protists and biogeochemical processes remains an active area of research.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate how different fertilization treatments affect soil protist and bacterial communities, as well as functional genes.
• To elucidate the role of protistan consumers in modulating soil microbial communities and biogeochemical cycles under varying fertilization regimes.

Main Methods:

• Rhizosphere soil samples were collected from seven distinct fertilization treatments during sorghum's maturity season.
• Community composition of protists and bacteria, along with functional genes, were analyzed using molecular techniques.
• Statistical analyses were performed to identify significant correlations between microbial communities, functional genes, and fertilization types.

Main Results:

• Fertilization treatments significantly altered both protist and bacterial community compositions.
• Organic fertilization notably increased protist diversity and enhanced the abundance of carbon and phosphorus cycling genes.
• Protistan consumers were found to prey on specific bacterial taxa, which were positively correlated with soil functional genes.

Conclusions:

• Fertilization, particularly organic fertilization, profoundly impacts soil microbial diversity and functional gene dynamics.
• Protistan consumers play a critical role in regulating soil microbial communities and influencing key soil biogeochemical cycles.
• This study underscores the importance of considering protists in soil management strategies to optimize ecosystem functions.