Determinism and stochasticity drive microbial community assembly and microbial interactions in calcareous glacier forefields.

ABSTRACT: Calcareous glacier forefields challenge prevailing ecological frameworks on microbial biodiversity and community assembly due to their unique bedrock. Early stages of soil development in these environments are notorious for their high turnover rates, demanding a high degree of replication for obtaining conclusive data. However, studies across different calcareous glaciers are still missing. Here, we robustly investigated both bacterial and fungal diversity, association networks, and assembly processes in four calcareous glacier forefields of the Alps, focusing on the earliest soil developmental stages (<25 years) early in the snow-free season. We found a diverse community of bacteria and fungi, potentially involved in P and N nutrient cycling. A core microbiome existing across all four loc

SUBMITTER: Mandolini E 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12175511 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature