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DOI

  • Xianjin He
    Chongqing University
  • Lian Zeng
    Chongqing University
  • Guangyu Zhu
    Chongqing University
  • M. D. F. Ellwood
  • Lihua Zhou
    Chongqing University
  • Junlong Huang
    Chongqing University
  • Chenchen Wang
    Chongqing University
  • Wei Li
    Chongqing University
  • Dunmei Lin
    Chongqing University
  • Pei Wei
    Chongqing University
  • Shijun Liu
    Chongqing University
  • Min Luo
    Chongqing University
  • Yong-Hua Zhang
    Wenzhou University
  • Yongchuan Yang
    Chongqing University
Aim: Climate is widely understood to determine elevational patterns of soil microbial communities, whereas the effects of parental material are uncertain. Changes in the composition of parental materials along elevational transects could also affect soil microbial communities by influencing soil pH and nutrient availability. Here, we aim to illustrate the combined effects of climate and parental material on the biomass and composition of soil microbial communities along an elevational transect.
Location: A subtropical forest on a karst mountain (Mt. Jinfo), China.
Taxon: Bacteria and Fungi.
Methods: We use phospholipid fatty acid analysis (PLFA) and DNA amplicon high-throughput sequencing to determine biomass and diversity patterns of soil microbial communities along a subtropical elevational gradient with contrasting parental materials (limestone and clasolite).
Results: We observed that the microbial communities were more diverse (α-diversity) and productive (biomass) on limestone than on clasolite. Additionally, we found that parental material played a role in shaping the composition (β-diversity) of soil microbial communities along the elevational gradient. The impact of climate on soil microbial communities was found to be significant, albeit relatively weak. Structural equation models provided evidence for both direct and indirect effects of climate and parental material on microbial biomass and α-diversity along the elevational gradient. Notably, the changes in soil pH, influenced by both parental material and climate, were identified as a key factor driving these effects.
Main Conclusions: Our results underline the importance of both climate and parental material variations in space-for-time studies investigating soil microbial communities along elevational gradients.

Keywords

  • altitude; bedrock; clasolite; climate; karst mountains; limestone; soil biogeography
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1185-1198
Number of pages14
JournalJournal of Biogeography
Volume51
Issue number7
Early online date19 Feb 2024
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Jul 2024
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