Grazing Regulates the Spatial Heterogeneity of Soil Microbial Communities Within Ecological Networks

Abstract

Grazing is a major driver of the composition of microbial communities, which play important roles in soil functioning. Mechanisms whereby grazing might regulate the spatial heterogeneity of microbial communities within ecological networks remain largely untested. We used network analysis to identify the impacts of increasing grazing intensity by livestock (cattle, sheep, goats), and native (kangaroos) and wild (rabbits) animals, on the spatial heterogeneity of the relative abundance of eight ecological clusters of co-occurring soil microbial taxa: four from Grasslands and four from Forests. Grazing effects on microbial spatial heterogeneity were strongly nuanced and depended on (1) plant community type, (2) herbivore type and (3) microbial identity. Microbial within-site spatial heterogeneity was greater in Grasslands than in Forests, and most effects of grazing on microbial spatial heterogeneity were in Forests, effecting three of the four Forest clusters, but only one Grassland cluster. The associations between grazing intensity and microbial heterogeneity were driven indirectly by changes in the spatial heterogeneity of litter cover and soil pH. For Grasslands, we also detected a direct effect of grazing intensity on the heterogeneity of particular microbial groups. Our results indicate that increased grazing intensity will advantage some microbial clusters but disadvantage others. Together, our study provides evidence that grazing intensity regulates the abundance and spatial heterogeneity of microbial communities within ecological networks. Knowing the potential effects of herbivores on different microbial clusters can help us predict the likely effects of grazing on soil function. This has important implications for future sustainable management and conservation policies.