Ecosystem Multifunctionality in Semi-Arid Wetlands Is Jointly Driven by Soil Environmental Factors and Microorganisms

Area of Science:

• Ecology
• Environmental Science
• Microbiology

Background:

• Biodiversity is crucial for ecosystem multifunctionality (EMF).
• The role of different wetland types in mediating the biodiversity-EMF relationship is not well understood.
• Wetlands are vital ecosystems, particularly in semi-arid regions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare ecosystem functionality and EMF between lacustrine (lake) and riverine (river) wetlands.
• To investigate how soil environmental variables influence plant and microbial communities.
• To explore the mechanisms driving EMF in different wetland types.

Main Methods:

• Field study in a semi-arid region comparing lacustrine and riverine wetlands.
• Analysis of soil environmental variables, plant communities, soil enzyme activities, and microbial communities (bacterial, fungal, archaeal).
• Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) to elucidate regulatory mechanisms.

Main Results:

• Lacustrine wetlands exhibited significantly lower individual ecosystem functions and EMF compared to riverine wetlands.
• Plant communities were key drivers of microbial community heterogeneity, while soil structure influenced enzyme activities.
• Riverine wetlands showed a direct link between EMF and microbial diversity; lacustrine wetlands were regulated by environmental filtering impacting plant communities.

Conclusions:

• Wetland type critically influences EMF and its underlying drivers.
• Riverine wetlands are more resilient due to direct biodiversity-EMF links, while lacustrine wetlands are susceptible to abiotic stressors.
• Findings offer insights for targeted wetland conservation and restoration strategies.