Community Diversity Research Articles

Interplanting potato with grapes improved yield and soil nutrients by optimizing the interactions of soil microorganisms and metabolites.

Interplanting crops is the best method to grow crops synergistically for better utilization of land and agro-resources. Grape (Vitis vinifera) and potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) have highly efficient agricultural planting systems in China, however, how soil physicochemical properties and soil microbial communities and metabolites affect the output of grape-potato interplanting remained unknown. In this study, we employed three planting patterns (CK: grape monocropping; YY: grape interplanted with potato (variety 'Favorita'); LS: grape interplanted with potato (variety 'Longshu7')) at two experimental sites i.e., the Huizhou (2022) site and the Qingyuan site (2023). The grape variety for all planting patterns was 'Sunshine Rose'. Soil samples (top 0-20 cm) at both sites were collected to observe the diversity of bacterial communities and soil metabolites. Our findings revealed that, compared with monocropping, the interplanted systems resulted in higher concentrations of total nitrogen, available phosphorus, and available potassium and enhanced the activities of acid phosphatase, urease, and protease. The potato root exudates also altered the relative abundance of Bacillus, Kaistobacter, and Streptomyces in the rhizosphere. Among the soil metabolites, lipids and organic acids showed the most significant changes. Notably, 13-L-hydroperoxylinoleic acid is the key differentially abundant metabolite involved in the regulation of linoleic acid metabolism pathways. The association analyses of the metabolome, microbiome, and soil physicochemical properties revealed that the interactions of microbes and metabolites resulted in differences in the soil nutrient content, whereas the interactions of 13-L-hydroperoxylinoleic acid and Firmicutes improved the soil nutrient levels and bacterial composition in the interplanting systems. In summary, our findings demonstrated that intercropping grapes with potato 'Favorita' was better with respect to improving soil nutrients, soil enzyme activity, the diversity of soil bacteria, and soil metabolites without causing adverse impacts on grape yield. Overall, this study explained the physiological mechanisms by which soil microorganisms and metabolites promote potato growth in grape interplanting and provided new perspectives for the utilization of soil resources in vineyards.

Changes in the funeral customs of Catholic people in Saigon - Ho Chi Minh city (1954 – 2024) – A view from "Cultural Relativity" Theory

Catholic is a global religion, so Catholic funerals organization expresses Catholic belief in the Resurrection and the cultural nuances of each nation. Over the past 70 years (from 1954 to 2024), the organization of Catholic funerals in Saigon (SG) - Ho Chi Minh city (HCMC) has undergone many changes because of urbanization influence and immigration waves as well as cultural diversity of local Catholic communities. This article will present some characteristics of Catholic funerals in SG-HCMC and important changes in dealing with the deceased's body.

The influence of urban environmental effects on the orchard soil microbial community structure and function: a case study in Zhejiang, China.

The urban environmental effects can have multifaceted impacts on the orchard soil microbial community structure and function. To specifically study these effects, we investigated the soil bacterial and fungal community in the laxly managed citrus orchards using amplicon sequencing. Ascomycota demonstrated significant dominance within the citrus orchard soils. The increased presence of beneficial Trichoderma spp. (0.3%) could help suppress plant pathogens, while the elevated abundance of potential pathogenic fungi, such as Fusarium spp. (0.4%), might raise the likelihood of disorders like root rot, thereby hindering plant growth and resulting in reduced yield. Moreover, we observed significant differences in the alpha and beta diversity of bacterial communities between urban and rural soils (p < 0.001). Environmental surveys and functional prediction of bacterial communities suggested that urban transportation factors and rural waste pollution were likely contributing to these disparities. When comparing bacterial species in urban and rural soils, Bacillus spp. exhibited notable increases in urban areas. Bacillus spp. possess heavy metal tolerance attributed to the presence of chromium reductase and nitroreductase enzymes involved in the chromium (VI) reduction pathway. Our findings have shed light on the intricate interplay of urban environmental effects and root systems, both of which exert influence on the soil microbiota. Apart from the removal of specific pollutants, the application of Bacillus spp. to alleviate traffic pollution, and the use of Trichoderma spp. for plant pathogen suppression were considered viable solutions. The knowledge acquired from this study can be employed to optimize agricultural practices, augment citrus productivity, and foster sustainable agriculture.

The effect of combinations of a glyphosate-based herbicide with various clinically used antibiotics on phenotypic traits of Gram-negative species from the ESKAPEE group

The emission of glyphosate and antibiotic residues from human activities threatens the diversity and functioning of the microbial community. This study examines the impact of a glyphosate-based herbicide (GBH) and common antibiotics on Gram-negative bacteria within the ESKAPEE group (Enterococcus faecium, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter baumannii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Enterobacter spp. and Escherichia coli). Ten strains, including type and multidrug-resistant strains for each species were analysed and eight antibiotics (cefotaxime, meropenem, aztreonam, ciprofloxacin, gentamicin, tigecycline, sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim, and colistin) were combined with the GBH. While most combinations yielded additive or indifferent effects in 70 associations, antagonistic effects were observed with ciprofloxacin and gentamicin in five strains. GBH notably decreased the minimum inhibitory concentration of colistin in eight strains and displayed synergistic activity with meropenem against metallo-β-lactamase (MBL)-producing strains. Investigation into the effect of GBH properties on outer membrane permeability involved exposing strains to a combination of this GBH and vancomycin. Results indicated that GBH rendered strains sensitive to vancomycin, which is typically ineffective against Gram-negative bacteria. Furthermore, we examined the impact of GBH in combination with three carbapenem agents on 14 strains exhibiting varying carbapenem-resistance mechanisms to assess its effect on carbapenemase activity. The GBH efficiently inhibited MBL activity, demonstrating similar effects to EDTA (ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid). Chelating effect of GBH may have multifaceted impacts on bacterial cells, potentially by increasing outer membrane permeability and inactivating metalloenzyme activity.

Annual cycle of phytoplankton in the Pacific ocean near Guatemala in relation to physicochemical parameters

Due to the lack of basic information on the behavior of the phytoplankton community of the Guatemalan Pacific, particularly of the factors that cause harmful algal blooms, monthly monitoring was performed during a year (January–December 2021), which included three hydrometeorological seasons at three sampling sites in Puerto Quetzal (Texaco Buoy, Recalada Buoy and Entre Morros Buoy) at two depths (1.5 m and 5.0 m). These sites are influenced by shipping and nearby human populations. The structure of the phytoplankton community (species composition, abundance, richness and diversity), with an emphasis on potentially toxic and non-toxic harmful species, were evaluated. A total of 53 diatom species from 26 genera and 13 orders and 42 dinoflagellate species from 14 genera and six orders were identified. No significant differences between the sampling depths and different quarters of the year were found. The comparison of the total cell abundance between the three sites showed no significant differences. The results obtained present novel information on the phytoplankton community of the Guatemalan Pacific, filling a gap in a region where algal blooms occur annually with consequent ecological impacts and human poisonings.

Effect of Three Different Types of Biochar on Bioelectricity Generated from Plant Microbial Fuel Cells under Unsaturated Soil Condition.

Plant microbial fuel cell (PMFC) is an emerging technology, showing promise for environmental biosensors and sustainable energy production. Despite its potential, PMFCs struggle with issues like low power output and limited drought resistance. Recent studies proposed that integrating biochar may enhance PMFC performance due to its physicochemical properties. The influence of different biochar types on PMFC efficiency has been minimally explored. This study aims to fill this gap by evaluating the performance of PMFCs integrated with various biochar types under unsaturated soil conditions. The study found that the addition of biochar types─specifically reed straw biochar (RSB), apple wood biochar (AWB), and corn straw biochar (CSB)─significantly influenced the performance of PMFCs. RSB, with its large surface area and porous structure, notably increased the current output by reducing soil resistance and enhancing electron transfer efficiency in microbial reduction reactions, achieving a peak power density of approximately 1608 mW/m2. AWB, despite its less porous structure, leveraged its high cation exchange capacity and hydrophilic functional groups to foster microbial community growth and diversity, thereby also increasing bioelectricity output. Conversely, CSB, with its large surface area, showed the least improvement in PMFC performance due to its layered structure and lower water retention capacity. Additionally, under drought conditions, PMFCs with added RSB and AWB exhibited better drought resistance due to their ability to improve soil moisture characteristics and enhance soil conductivity. The addition of biochar reduced soil resistance, increasing the bioelectric output of PMFCs and maintaining good performance even under low moisture conditions. This study highlights the critical role of biochar's surface area and functional groups in optimizing PMFC performance. It enhances our understanding of PMFC optimization and might offer a novel power generation method for the future, while also presenting a fresh strategy for soil monitoring.

Effects of Continuous Cropping on the Physiochemical Properties, Pesticide Residues, and Microbial Community in the Root Zone Soil of Lycium barbarum

Continuous cropping is a common obstacle limiting the high quality and yield of Lycium barbarum （wolfberry）. To clarify the response of soil characteristics of the wolfberry root zone to continuous cropping years, we systematically determined the physicochemical properties and pesticide residues of soils in the wolfberry root zone with different continuous cropping years. In addition, soil bacterial and fungal communities were characterized using high-throughput sequencing technology. The results were as follows： The content of total salt and imidacloprid in the root zone of wolfberry increased with increasing years of continuous cropping. Compared to that with 2 and 9 years, the total salt content in the root zone of wolfberry with 15 years of continuous cropping increased by 51.97% and 54.33%, respectively, and the imidacloprid content increased by 39.58% and 36.61%, respectively. Alkaline nitrogen and available potassium showed an increasing and then decreasing trend. Compared to that with 2 and 15 years, alkaline nitrogen and available potassium in the root-soil of wolfberry with 9 years of continuous cropping increased by 16.94%-28.09% and 18.31%-18.34%, respectively. The diversity and abundance of bacterial communities and the abundance of fungal communities were higher in the root-soil of wolfberry with 9 years of continuous cropping compared to that with 15 years of continuous cropping. In addition, the increase in continuous cropping years also increased the accumulation of harmful plant pathogens such as Pseudomonas, Arthrobacter, Actinomucor, and Trichoderma in the root zone of L. barbarum. Soil total salinity, organic matter, alkaline hydrolyzable nitrogen, and available potassium were the main factors influencing the distribution of bacterial communities. Soil alkaline hydrolyzable nitrogen, available potassium, and ammonium nitrogen were the main factors influencing the distribution of fungal communities. In addition, the soil bacteria in the root zone of L. barbarum were dominated by metabolic functions； in particular, amino acid metabolism, energy metabolism, and nucleotide metabolism were most abundant in the root soil of wolfberry with 9 years of continuous cropping, whereas the highest abundance of functional genes related to membrane translocation was found in the root-soil of wolfberry with 15 years of continuous cropping. The soil fungi were all dominated by saprophytic trophic types, followed by pathogenic cross-nutrients in the root zone of L. barbarum. In conclusion, long-term continuous cropping induced changes in the soil microenvironment in the root zone of L. barbarum, increased soil residues of harmful pesticides and the enrichment of plant pathogens, and reduced the diversity of soil bacterial and fungal communities. Therefore, it is necessary to control the rate of application of soil nutrients and pesticides in the management of L. barbarum and to carry out deep ploughing and deep tilling in good time, and the turnover of old plants in the cultivation of L. barbarum.

Remediation Mechanism of Chitosan-modified Biochar on Cd-contaminated Farmland Soil and Its Effect on Bacterial Community

To explore the remediation mechanism of chitosan-modified biochar （passivator） on Cd-contaminated farmland soil, pot experiments were conducted to determine the effects of passivator on soil physical and chemical properties, ryegrass biomass, enzyme activity, and the response of soil bacterial diversity and structure. The results showed that when the amount of passivating agent was increased from 0.5% to 3%, the content of available Cd in soil was significantly decreased compared with that in the control, and the above-ground and subsurface biomass of ryegrass was increased by 1.08-1.56 times and 1.00-1.68 times, respectively. The enrichment and running coefficients were reduced by 6.15%-30.00% and 10.42%-31.25%, respectively. The correlation analysis results showed that soil pH, CEC, SOM, AN, AP, and AK were significantly negatively correlated with DTPA-Cd, indicating that the application of a passivating agent promoted the passivation of Cd in soil by changing the physical and chemical properties of soil. High-throughput sequencing results showed that the application of the inactivation agent changed the structure and diversity of the soil bacterial community, which was manifested as a significant decrease in α diversity, significant isolation of bacteria between different treatment groups, and an increase in the relative abundance of beneficial bacteria such as Sphingomonas and Blastococcus. Moreover, the activities of soil urease and cellulase increased, whereas the activities of sucrase and catalase decreased with the addition of a passivator. This study provides a theoretical basis and technical reference for the application of modified biochar in the remediation of Cd-contaminated farmland soil.

Bacillus licheniformisYB06: A Rhizosphere-Genome-Wide Analysis and Plant Growth-Promoting Analysis of a Plant Growth-Promoting Rhizobacterium Isolated from Codonopsis pilosula.

Codonopsis pilosula, commonly known as Dangshen, is a valuable medicinal plant, but its slow growth and susceptibility to environmental stress pose challenges for its cultivation. In pursuit of sustainable agricultural practices to enhance the yield and quality of Dangshen, the present study isolated a bacterial strain exhibiting plant growth-promoting potential from the rhizosphere of C. pilosula. This strain was subsequently identified as Bacillus licheniformisYB06. Assessment of its plant growth-promoting attributes revealed the potential of B. licheniformis YB06 as a biofertilizer. Whole-genome sequencing of B. licheniformis YB06 revealed a genome size of 4,226,888 bp with a GC content of 46.22%, harboring 4325 predicted protein-coding sequences. Genomic analysis of B. licheniformis YB06 revealed a diverse array of genes linked to induced systemic resistance (ISR) and plant growth-promoting (PGP) traits, encompassing phytohormone production, nitrogen assimilation and reduction, siderophore biosynthesis, phosphate solubilization, biofilm formation, synthesis of PGP-related amino acids, and flagellar motility. Seed germination assays demonstrated the positive effects of B. licheniformis YB06 on the germination and growth of C. pilosula seedlings. Furthermore, we explored various fertilization regimes, particularly the B. licheniformis YB06-based biofertilizer, were investigated for their impact on the structure and diversity of the C. pilosula rhizosphere soil bacterial community. Our findings revealed that fertilization significantly impacted soil bacterial composition and diversity, with the combined application of B. licheniformis YB06-based biofertilizer and organic fertilizer exhibiting a particularly pronounced enhancement of rhizosphere bacterial community structure and diversity. This study represents the first report on the beneficial effects of B. licheniformis YB06 on both the growth of C. pilosula and the composition of its rhizosphere soil microbial community. These findings provide a theoretical foundation and practical guidance for the development of novel bio-organic compound fertilizers, thereby contributing to the sustainable cultivation of C. pilosula.

Spatial Distribution Characteristics of Plant Community and the Identification of Driving Factors in Riparian Zone of the Three-River Headwaters Region, China

The unique geographical and climatic conditions in the Three-River Headwaters Region gave birth to distinctive plant species and vegetation types. To reveal the spatial distribution of plant communities and soil habitats along the riparian zone of the Sanjiangyuan Region and their influencing mechanisms, 14 survey plots were set up （ten from the Yangtze River source, two from the Lancang River source, and two from the Yellow River source）, and the effects of soil nutrient characteristics （especially soil phosphorus morphology）, climate factors, and river topography on plant community characteristics were quantitatively analyzed. The results showed that the plant community composition in the riparian zone of the source of the three rivers was dominated by perennial herbs （72.2%）, followed by annual herbs （20.4%） and shrubs （7.4%）. The dominant plants were Stipa purpurea, Polygonum orbiculatum, Carex parvula, Potentilla anserina, and Gentiana straminea. The average plant coverage, Shannon-Wiener index, and Pielou index were （64.4% ±23.6%）, （1.31 ±0.42）, and （0.84 ±0.08）, respectively. The plant community diversity index was the highest in the Yangtze River source, followed by that in the Lancang River source, and the lowest in the Yellow River source. The soil pH of the riparian zone of the Yangtze River source was significantly higher than that of the Lancang River source, whereas the mean contents of organic matter, total nitrogen, and Fe-Al combined phosphorus were significantly lower than those of the Lancang River source. The calcium and magnesium-combined phosphorus was the main form of phosphorus in riparian soil （63.89%）. Temperature, soil organic phosphorus content, and pH had significant effects on plant composition in the riparian zone of the Three-River Headwaters Region, whereas soil calcium and magnesium-combined phosphorus content had significant effects on plant community diversities. These results may deepen the scientific understanding of the evolution trend and genetic mechanism of plant communities in the riparian zone of the Three-River Headwaters Region.

Diversity and Life History Traits of Native Weed Communities in Agricultural Areas: A Case Study in Eastern China.

Native weeds have a long history of adaptation to local environments. Understanding the relationship between the occurrence of native weeds and their life history traits is crucial for effective weed management and risk assessment of plant invasions. In this study, we surveyed native weed species and their dominance across 666 field sites in agricultural areas of Yangzhou City, China, and each site was 13.3 hectares in area. A total of 287 native weed species were recorded, referring to 63 families, among which 45% were 50-100 cm in plant height and 47% were of an erect life type. In terms of the proportions out of the total native weed occurrence dominance, Poaceae, Compositae, and Fabaceae weeds accounted for 30%, 13%, and 11%; liana and perennials both occupied 32%; and aquatic, hygrophyte, sun plant, and shade plant all occupied < 10%. Additionally, the proportions increased with increasing seed production per plant and with increasing weediness reported worldwide. Native weed groups holding moderate vegetative reproduction abilities, moderate seed sizes, or herbicide resistance showed higher proportions. Moreover, most of the native weeds surveyed were not succulent or thorny plants and did not hold thorns, awns, obvious hairs, or mucilage on their fruits.

Methylparaben changes the community composition, structure, and assembly processes of free-living bacteria, phytoplankton, and zooplankton

Parabens are common contaminants in river and lake environments. However, few studies have been conducted to determine the effects of parabens on bacteria, phytoplankton, and zooplankton communities in aquatic environments. In this study, the effect of methylparaben (MP) on the diversity and community structure of the aquatic plankton microbiome was investigated by incubating a microcosm with MP at 0.1, 1, 10, and 100 μg/L for 7 days. The results of the Simpson index showed that MP treatment altered the α-diversity of free-living bacteria (FL), phytoplankton, and zooplankton but had no significant effect on the α-diversity of particle-attached bacteria (PA). Further, the relative abundances of the sensitive bacteria Chitinophaga and Vibrionimonas declined after MP addition. Moreover, the relative abundances of Desmodesmus sp. HSJ717 and Scenedesmus armatus, of the phylum Chlorophyta, were significantly lower in the MP treatment group than in the control group. In addition, the relative abundance of Stoeckeria sp. SSMS0806, of the Dinophyta phylum, was higher than that in the control group. MP addition also increased the relative abundance of Arthropoda but decreased the relative abundance of Rotifera and Ciliophora. The β-diversity analysis showed that FL and phytoplankton communities were clustered separately after treatment with different MP concentrations. MP addition changed community assembly mechanisms in the microcosm, including increasing the stochastic processes for FL and the deterministic processes for PA and phytoplankton. Structural equation modeling analysis showed a significant negative relationship between bacteria richness and phytoplankton richness, and a significant positive relationship between phytoplankton (richness and community composition) and zooplankton. Overall, this study emphasizes that MP, at environmental concentrations, can change the diversity and structure of plankton microbial communities, which might have a negative effect on ecological systems.

Diversity, functional redundancy, and vulnerability of reef fish communities of the Saudi Arabian coast, in the northern Red Sea

In light of the current development of several giga-projects along the Saudi Red Sea coast, understanding the health status of coral reefs is paramount to developing baselines and management strategies to minimize the human impact on these ecosystems. Here, we present an assessment of the diversity, functional redundancy, and vulnerability for coral reef fish communities in the northern Red Sea. The focus area of our study falls within the marine jurisdiction of the NEOM giga-project. We performed fish surveys with three different methods aiming to cover a wide set of habitats and thus capture a comprehensive picture of the regional diversity: i) standardized belt transects, ii) roving diviersity surveys, and iii) collection of cryptobenthic fish. Our results showed a highly variable community composition along the ten surveyed sites highlighting Sindalah as an essential site for piscivore species, Al Muwaileh as an important site for herbivores, and Sanafir-Tiran as the most diverse site. Functional diversity analysis revealed similar levels of redundancy, over-redundancy, and vulnerability among sites. Functional richness, evenness, and divergence did not vary substantially between sites and, in general, indicated that the fish communities in the selected sites present mid to low levels of functional diversity. We further compare regional-scale and site-specific functional assessments. Notably, some of the species groups that are functionally redundant at the regional scale represented vulnerable functions at the site level. These results call to attention the need to create site-specific conservation strategies and not to solely rely on regional diviersity assessments as the basis for management decisions.

Nilai Moderasi Beragama Pada Tradisi Upacara Kremasi Jenazah Di Desa Rama Agung

The aim of this service is to strengthen the attitude of religious moderation by understanding and practicing the value of moderation in Rama Agung Village. It is hoped that this can make a positive contribution to the development of attitudes of tolerance and harmony in society. This research describes a series of procedures from the beginning to the end of cremation in Lama Agung village. Apart from that, this research also examines how the value of religious moderation is applied in a very harmonious and mutually supportive society. This research aims to provide a deeper understanding of the application of facilitation in the context of community diversity and harmony in the village by explaining the details of the cremation process and social interactions that occurred while I was here. The qualitative approach of this research is to collect primary data through interviews with Hindu traditional leaders who are directly involved in the implementation of the Ngaben ceremony. This method helps us to understand more comprehensively the aspects of ritual and religious facilitation in Rama Agung village. The results of this research show that the cremation death ritual includes several stages, namely preparation of offerings and equipment, handover of the body, implementation of the cremation ceremony, and reading of praise songs. Collection and disposal of ashes, closing of the event and evening prayer at Mentebengan.

Soil biota modulate the effects of microplastics on biomass and diversity of plant communities

Abstract The use of biodegradable plastics has been proposed as an alternative to mitigate the pollution problem caused by traditional non‐biodegradable plastics. However, the relative impacts of both types of microplastics on plant community productivity and diversity is not known. Moreover, it is unclear whether soil biota can differentially mediate the impacts of biodegradable and non‐biodegradable microplastics on plant communities. In this study, we investigated the effects of biodegradable and non‐biodegradable microplastics on plant community biomass production and diversity, and whether soil biota mediate these effects. We employed a fully crossed factorial design, growing six plant communities in the presence or absence of 10 individual microplastics, and in live soil versus sterilized soil. We hypothesized that: (1) Biodegradable microplastics have a less negative effect on plant community biomass production and diversity compared to non‐biodegradable microplastics. (2) Soil biota differentially mediate the effects of biodegradable and non‐biodegradable microplastics on plant community biomass production and diversity. Statistical analyses that included all 10 microplastics yielded two main findings. First, live soil ameliorated the negative effects of biodegradable microplastics on community shoot biomass. Second, the presence of microplastics, rather than their biodegradability, significantly reduced community diversity. Separate analyses of individual microplastics suggest that these patterns were driven by specific microplastics. The biodegradable microplastic polybutylene succinate (PBS) was the main driver of the pattern observed in community shoot biomass. In contrast, the biodegradable microplastic polycaprolactone (PCL) and non‐biodegradable microplastics ethylene‐vinyl acetate (EVA) and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) were the main drivers of the pattern observed in community diversity. Further analyses excluding PBS from the global models, but including the other nine microplastics, revealed no significant differences in community shoot biomass and diversity between biodegradable and non‐biodegradable microplastics in live versus sterilized soil. Synthesis and applications. Our findings suggest that biodegradable microplastics, often considered environmentally friendly, are not necessarily less harmful than non‐biodegradable microplastics to the growth and diversity of plant communities. Some individual biodegradable microplastics, such as PBS, still pose significant ecological risks to plant community structure and productivity. However, the results also suggest that soil biota may mitigate the negative effects of some biodegradable microplastics.

A sedimentary DNA perspective about the influence of environmental and food‐web changes on the microbial eukaryotic community of Lake Biwa

Abstract The impacts of environmental change on Lake Biwa have been explored for decades, with water monitoring and palaeolimnological studies revealing how environmental forcing, including climate warming, eutrophication, water level manipulation and human manipulation of fish populations, has influenced the food web of Lake Biwa. However, these studies have rarely accounted for microbial food‐web components. This knowledge gap is mostly due to the lack of time series spanning more than a couple of decades, coupled with the high taxonomical expertise required to identify organisms belonging to very diverse groups. The use of a sedimentary DNA approach allows for the reconstruction of past changes in the diversity, composition and structure of the microbial eukaryotic community of aquatic systems. The application of 18S metabarcoding has been proven successful to describe the response of unicellular eukaryotes (protists) and aquatic fungi in lake ecosystems, encompassing a large taxonomic and functional diversity such as phototrophs, heterotrophs and mixotrophs. We applied 18S metabarcoding to 31 sediment core samples from Lake Biwa, spanning the past 100 years and explored the response of microbial eukaryotic communities to changes in multiple environmental stressors, including nutrient levels, lake water level, climate, as well as fish and zooplankton biomass for the period 1973–2010. We found that the manipulation of the water level and changes in fish community composition were the primary factors impacting (indirectly) the structure of the lake microbial eukaryotic community with minor, but significant, effects of climate warming and phosphorus levels. Co‐occurrence network analysis highlighted the potential food web impacts on the microbial eukaryotic community, suggesting that organisms from this compartment were impacted by both bottom‐up and top‐down processes.

Soil pH enhancement and alterations in nutrient and Bacterial Community profiles following Pleioblastus amarus expansion in tea plantations

BackgroundThe expansion of bamboo forests increases environmental heterogeneity in tea plantation ecosystems, affecting soil properties and microbial communities. Understanding these impacts is essential for developing sustainable bamboo management and maintaining ecological balance in tea plantations.MethodsWe studied the effect of the continuous expansion of Pleioblastus amarus into tea plantations, by establishing five plot types: pure P. amarus forest area (BF), P. amarus forest interface area (BA), mixed forest interface area (MA), mixed forest center area (TB), and pure tea plantation area (TF). We conducted a comprehensive analysis of soil chemical properties and utilized Illumina sequencing to profile microbial community composition and diversity, emphasizing their responses to bamboo expansion.Results(1) Bamboo expansion significantly raised soil pH and enhanced levels of organic matter, nitrogen, and phosphorus, particularly noticeable in BA and MA sites. In the TB sites, improvements in soil nutrients were statistically indistinguishable from those in pure tea plantation areas. (2) Continuous bamboo expansion led to significant changes in soil bacterial diversity, especially noticeable between BA and TF sites, while fungal diversity was unaffected. (3) Bamboo expansion substantially altered the composition of less abundant bacterial and fungal communities, which proved more sensitive to changes in soil chemical properties.ConclusionThe expansion of bamboo forests causes significant alterations in soil pH and nutrient characteristics, impacting the diversity and composition of soil bacteria in tea plantations. However, as expansion progresses, its long-term beneficial impact on soil quality in tea plantations appears limited.

Effects of Environmental Factors on the Diversity of Grasshopper Communities along Altitude Gradients in Xizang, China.

To determine the grasshopper species composition, altitudinal distribution patterns, and their main drivers, we conducted a study in Xizang using 33 sample plots ranging from 600 to 4100 m. Grasshoppers were collected from August to October during 2020-2022 using sweep nets. A total of 1159 grasshoppers from six families, 28 genera, and 44 species were identified, with Omocestus cuonaensis and Aserratus eminifrontus as the dominant species, comprising 30.03% and 10.26% of total grasshoppers, respectively. The results showed that species richness and the Margalef richness index of grasshopper communities decreased significantly (p < 0.05) with increasing altitude, peaking at 1100-1600 m and lowest values at 2600-3100 m. Similarly, the Shannon-Wiener index and Simpson dominance index also decreased significantly (p < 0.05) with an increase in altitude, showing the highest and lowest values at 600-1100 m and 3100-3600 m, respectively. The Jaccard similarity coefficients among grasshopper communities varied from 0 to 0.40 across altitudinal gradients, indicating different degrees of dissimilarity. The results of Pearson correlation analyses showed that the Shannon-Wiener index, species richness, Margalef richness index, and Simpson dominance index of grasshopper communities were significantly negatively correlated with the temperature factors and soil pH, but they were significantly positively correlated with the moisture factors. Hierarchical partitioning identified annual mean temperature-daily difference, precipitation in the coldest season, and driest month precipitation as the primary factors explaining variance in grasshopper community diversity in Xizang. These findings provided greater insights into the mechanisms underlying insect community structure, distribution patterns, and diversity in Xizang ecosystems, including implications for the effects of global warming on insect communities.

Deciphering the differences of bacterial communities between high- and low-productive wheat fields using high-throughput sequencing.

Microbial communities have been demonstrated to be essential for healthy and productive soil ecosystems. However, an understanding of the relationship between soil microbial community and soil productivity levels is remarkably limited. In this study, bulk soil (BS), rhizosphere soil (RS), and root (R) samples from the historical high-productive (H) and low-productive (L) soil types of wheat in Hebei province of China were collected and analyzed by high-throughput sequencing. The study highlighted the richness, diversity, and structure of bacterial communities, along with the correlation networks among different bacterial genera. Significant differences in the bacterial community structure between samples of different soil types were observed. Compared with the low-productive soil type, the bacterial communities of samples from the high-productive soil type possessed high species richness, low species diversity, complex and stable networks, and a higher relative abundance of beneficial microbes, such as Pseudoxanthomonas, unclassified Vicinamibacteraceae, Lysobacter, Massilia, Pseudomonas, and Bacillus. Further analysis indicated that the differences were mainly driven by soil organic matter (SOM), available nitrogen (AN), and electrical conductivity (EC). Overall, the soil bacterial community is an important factor affecting soil health and crop production, which provides a theoretical basis for the targeted regulation of microbes in low-productivity soil types.

New insights into the structure and function of microbial communities in Maxwell Bay, Antarctica.

The microbial communities inhabiting polar ecosystems, particularly in Maxwell Bay, Antarctica, play a pivotal role in nutrient cycling and ecosystem dynamics. However, the diversity of these microbial communities remains underexplored. In this study, we aim to address this gap by investigating the distribution, environmental drivers, and metabolic potential of microorganisms in Maxwell Bay. We analyzed the prokaryotic and eukaryotic microbiota at 11 stations, revealing distinctive community structures and diverse phylum dominance by using high-throughput sequencing. Spatial analysis revealed a significant impact of longitude on microbial communities, with microeukaryotes exhibiting greater sensitivity to spatial factors than microprokaryotes. We constructed co-occurrence networks to explore the stability of microbial communities, indicating the complexity and stability of microprokaryotic communities compared with those of microeukaryotes. Our findings suggest that the microeukaryotic communities in Maxwell Bay are more susceptible to disturbances. Additionally, this study revealed the spatial correlations between microbial communities, diversity, and environmental variables. Redundancy analysis highlighted the significance of pH and dissolved oxygen in shaping microprokaryotic and microeukaryotic communities, indicating the anthropogenic influence near the scientific research stations. Functional predictions using Tax4Fun2 and FUNGuild revealed the metabolic potential and trophic modes of the microprokaryotic and microeukaryotic communities, respectively. Finally, this study provides novel insights into the microbial ecology of Maxwell Bay, expanding the understanding of polar microbiomes and their responses to environmental factors.