Biogeographical patterns and mechanisms of microbial community assembly that underlie successional biocrusts across northern China.

ABSTRACT: Biocrusts play critical eco-functions in many drylands, however it is challenging to explore their community assembly, particularly within patched successional types and across climate zones. Here, different successional biocrusts (alga, lichen, and moss-dominated biocrusts) were collected across the northern China, and assembly of biocrust microbial communities was investigated by high-throughput sequencing combined with measurements of soil properties and microclimate environments. Bacterial and eukaryotic communities showed that the maximum and minimum community variation occurred across longitude and latitude, respectively. In the regions where all three stages of biocrusts were involved, the highest community difference existed between successional stages, and decreased with distance.

SUBMITTER: Li Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7864921 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature