biostudies-literatureLiang JLNational Key R&amp;D Program of ChinaNational Key R&D Program of ChinaNational Natural Science Foundation of China136https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC11265010biostudies-literatureUnknown12(1)<h4>Background</h4>Soil giant viruses are increasingly believed to have profound effects on ecological functioning by infecting diverse eukaryotes. However, their biogeography and ecology remain poorly understood.<h4>Results</h4>In this study, we analyzed 333 soil metagenomes from 5 habitat types (farmland, forest, grassland, Gobi desert, and mine wasteland) across China and identified 533 distinct giant virus phylotypes affiliated with nine families, thereby greatly expanding the diversity of soil giant viruses. Among the nine families, Pithoviridae were the most diverse. The majority of phylotypes exhibited a heterogeneous distribution among habitat types, with a remarkably high proportion of unique phylotypes in mine wasteland. The abundances of phylotypes were negatively correlated witMicrobiomeUnraveling the habitat preferences, ecological drivers, potential hosts, and auxiliary metabolism of soil giant viruses across China.PMC1126501041622106421770092023YFC3207300Jia PYi XLi JTGao SMFeng SWLiao BLu JLShu WSLiang JLWu ZHfalseUnraveling the habitat preferences, ecological drivers, potential hosts, and auxiliary metabolism of soil giant viruses across China.<h4>Background</h4>Soil giant viruses are increasingly believed to have profound effects on ecological functioning by infecting diverse eukaryotes. However, their biogeography and ecology remain poorly understood.<h4>Results</h4>In this study, we analyzed 333 soil metagenomes from 5 habitat types (farmland, forest, grassland, Gobi desert, and mine wasteland) across China and identified 533 distinct giant virus phylotypes affiliated with nine families, thereby greatly expanding the diversity of soil giant viruses. Among the nine families, Pithoviridae were the most diverse. The majority of phylotypes exhibited a heterogeneous distribution among habitat types, with a remarkably high proportion of unique phylotypes in mine wasteland. The abundances of phylotypes were negatively correlated wit2024-01-01T00:00:00Z2024 Jul2026-06-02T09:09:57.757Z2025-06-01T01:17:44.945ZS-EPMC112650103903958610.1186/s40168-024-01851-8