Changes in soil oxidase activity induced by microbial life history strategies mediate the soil heterotrophic respiration response to drought and nitrogen enrichment

Weirong Zhuang; Weirong Zhuang; Yong Li; Yong Li; Xiaoming Kang; Xiaoming Kang; Liang Yan; Liang Yan; Xiaodong Zhang; Xiaodong Zhang; Zhongqing Yan; Zhongqing Yan; Kerou Zhang; Kerou Zhang; Ao Yang; Ao Yang; Yuechuan Niu; Xiaoshun Yu; Xiaoshun Yu; Huan Wang; Huan Wang; Miaomiao An; Miaomiao An; Rongxiao Che; Rongxiao Che

doi:10.3389/fmicb.2024.1375300

Frontiers in Microbiology (Mar 2024)

Changes in soil oxidase activity induced by microbial life history strategies mediate the soil heterotrophic respiration response to drought and nitrogen enrichment

Weirong Zhuang,
Weirong Zhuang,
Yong Li,
Yong Li,
Xiaoming Kang,
Xiaoming Kang,
Liang Yan,
Liang Yan,
Xiaodong Zhang,
Xiaodong Zhang,
Zhongqing Yan,
Zhongqing Yan,
Kerou Zhang,
Kerou Zhang,
Ao Yang,
Ao Yang,
Yuechuan Niu,
Xiaoshun Yu,
Xiaoshun Yu,
Huan Wang,
Huan Wang,
Miaomiao An,
Miaomiao An,
Rongxiao Che,
Rongxiao Che

Affiliations

Weirong Zhuang: Yunnan Key Laboratory of Soil Erosion Prevention and Green Development, Institute of International Rivers and Ecosecurity, Yunnan University, Kunming, China
Weirong Zhuang: Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Ecosecurity of Southwest China, Yunnan University, Kunming, China
Yong Li: Beijing Key Laboratory of Wetland Services and Restoration, Wetland Research Center, Institute of Ecological Conservation and Restoration, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing, China
Yong Li: Sichuan Zoige Wetland Ecosystem Research Station, Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of Aba, Beijing, Sichuan, China
Xiaoming Kang: Beijing Key Laboratory of Wetland Services and Restoration, Wetland Research Center, Institute of Ecological Conservation and Restoration, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing, China
Xiaoming Kang: Sichuan Zoige Wetland Ecosystem Research Station, Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of Aba, Beijing, Sichuan, China
Liang Yan: Beijing Key Laboratory of Wetland Services and Restoration, Wetland Research Center, Institute of Ecological Conservation and Restoration, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing, China
Liang Yan: Sichuan Zoige Wetland Ecosystem Research Station, Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of Aba, Beijing, Sichuan, China
Xiaodong Zhang: Beijing Key Laboratory of Wetland Services and Restoration, Wetland Research Center, Institute of Ecological Conservation and Restoration, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing, China
Xiaodong Zhang: Sichuan Zoige Wetland Ecosystem Research Station, Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of Aba, Beijing, Sichuan, China
Zhongqing Yan: Beijing Key Laboratory of Wetland Services and Restoration, Wetland Research Center, Institute of Ecological Conservation and Restoration, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing, China
Zhongqing Yan: Sichuan Zoige Wetland Ecosystem Research Station, Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of Aba, Beijing, Sichuan, China
Kerou Zhang: Beijing Key Laboratory of Wetland Services and Restoration, Wetland Research Center, Institute of Ecological Conservation and Restoration, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing, China
Kerou Zhang: Sichuan Zoige Wetland Ecosystem Research Station, Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of Aba, Beijing, Sichuan, China
Ao Yang: Beijing Key Laboratory of Wetland Services and Restoration, Wetland Research Center, Institute of Ecological Conservation and Restoration, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing, China
Ao Yang: Sichuan Zoige Wetland Ecosystem Research Station, Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of Aba, Beijing, Sichuan, China
Yuechuan Niu: College of Life Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
Xiaoshun Yu: Beijing Key Laboratory of Wetland Services and Restoration, Wetland Research Center, Institute of Ecological Conservation and Restoration, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing, China
Xiaoshun Yu: Sichuan Zoige Wetland Ecosystem Research Station, Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of Aba, Beijing, Sichuan, China
Huan Wang: Beijing Key Laboratory of Wetland Services and Restoration, Wetland Research Center, Institute of Ecological Conservation and Restoration, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing, China
Huan Wang: Sichuan Zoige Wetland Ecosystem Research Station, Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of Aba, Beijing, Sichuan, China
Miaomiao An: Beijing Key Laboratory of Wetland Services and Restoration, Wetland Research Center, Institute of Ecological Conservation and Restoration, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing, China
Miaomiao An: Sichuan Zoige Wetland Ecosystem Research Station, Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of Aba, Beijing, Sichuan, China
Rongxiao Che: Yunnan Key Laboratory of Soil Erosion Prevention and Green Development, Institute of International Rivers and Ecosecurity, Yunnan University, Kunming, China
Rongxiao Che: Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Ecosecurity of Southwest China, Yunnan University, Kunming, China

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2024.1375300
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 15

Abstract

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Drought and nitrogen deposition are two major climate challenges, which can change the soil microbial community composition and ecological strategy and affect soil heterotrophic respiration (Rh). However, the combined effects of microbial community composition, microbial life strategies, and extracellular enzymes on the dynamics of Rh under drought and nitrogen deposition conditions remain unclear. Here, we experimented with an alpine swamp meadow to simulate drought (50% reduction in precipitation) and multilevel addition of nitrogen to determine the interactive effects of microbial community composition, microbial life strategy, and extracellular enzymes on Rh. The results showed that drought significantly reduced the seasonal mean Rh by 40.07%, and increased the Rh to soil respiration ratio by 22.04%. Drought significantly altered microbial community composition. The ratio of K- to r-selected bacteria (BK:r) and fungi (FK:r) increased by 20 and 91.43%, respectively. Drought increased hydrolase activities but decreased oxidase activities. However, adding N had no significant effect on microbial community composition, BK:r, FK:r, extracellular enzymes, or Rh. A structural equation model showed that the effects of drought and adding nitrogen via microbial community composition, microbial life strategy, and extracellular enzymes explained 84% of the variation in Rh. Oxidase activities decreased with BK:r, but increased with FK:r. Our findings show that drought decreased Rh primarily by inhibiting oxidase activities, which is induced by bacterial shifts from the r-strategy to the K-strategy. Our results highlight that the indirect regulation of drought on the carbon cycle through the dynamic of bacterial and fungal life history strategy should be considered for a better understanding of how terrestrial ecosystems respond to future climate change.

Published in Frontiers in Microbiology

ISSN: 1664-302X (Online)
Publisher: Frontiers Media S.A.
Country of publisher: Switzerland
LCC subjects: Science: Microbiology
Website: http://www.frontiersin.org/journals/microbiology

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