Biotic interactions explain seasonal dynamics of the alpine soil microbiome.

ABSTRACT: While it is acknowledged that alpine soil bacterial communities are primarily driven by season and elevation, there is no consensus on the factors influencing fungi and protists. Here we used a holistic approach of the microbiome to investigate the seasonal dynamics in alpine grasslands, focusing on soil food web interactions. We collected 158 soil samples along elevation transects from three mountains in the Alps, in spring during snowmelt and in the following summer. Using metatranscriptomics, we simultaneously assessed prokaryotic and eukaryotic communities, further classified into trophic guilds. Our findings reveal that the consumers' pressure increases from spring to summer, leading to more diverse and evenly distributed prey communities. Consequently, consumers effectively maintain

SUBMITTER: Fiore-Donno AM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10945362 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature