Salinization influences the biodiversity-ecosystem functioning relationship more strongly at high salinity.

ABSTRACT: Salinization threatens ecosystem stability by altering microbial diversity and function, yet how salinity influences biodiversity-ecosystem functioning (BEF) relationships remains unclear. In this study, we constructed artificial microbial communities (5-40 strains) with varying salt tolerance and phylogeny, culturing them across a salinity gradient (0.9%-20%). We found that low-to-moderate salinity (0.9%-7%) minimally affected BEF relationships, but high salinity (15%-20%) amplified biodiversity loss impacts, with ecosystem yield declining sharply at low richness (R ² = 0.573, p < 0.001). Hypersaline conditions shifted community composition toward halophiles (e.g., Halomonas dominance at 20% salinity) and inhibited metabolic functions, such as glycosyl hydr

SUBMITTER: Huang J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12754629 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature