Different mechanisms driving increasing abundance of microbial phosphorus cycling gene groups along an elevational gradient
Yi Li,
Jieying Wang,
Liyuan He,
Xiaofeng Xu,
Jun Wang,
Chengjie Ren,
Yaoxin Guo,
Fazhu Zhao
Affiliations
Yi Li
Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Earth Surface System and Environmental Carrying Capacity, Northwest University, Xi’an, Shaanxi 710127, China; College of Urban and Environmental Sciences, Northwest University, Xi’an, Shaanxi 710127, China
Jieying Wang
Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Earth Surface System and Environmental Carrying Capacity, Northwest University, Xi’an, Shaanxi 710127, China; College of Urban and Environmental Sciences, Northwest University, Xi’an, Shaanxi 710127, China
Liyuan He
Biology Department, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA 92182, USA
Xiaofeng Xu
Biology Department, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA 92182, USA
Jun Wang
Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Earth Surface System and Environmental Carrying Capacity, Northwest University, Xi’an, Shaanxi 710127, China; College of Urban and Environmental Sciences, Northwest University, Xi’an, Shaanxi 710127, China; Carbon Neutrality College (Yulin), Northwest University, Xi’an, Shaanxi 710127, China
Chengjie Ren
College of Agronomy, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, Shaanxi, China
Yaoxin Guo
The College of Life Sciences, Northwest University, Xi’an 710072, Shaanxi, China
Fazhu Zhao
Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Earth Surface System and Environmental Carrying Capacity, Northwest University, Xi’an, Shaanxi 710127, China; College of Urban and Environmental Sciences, Northwest University, Xi’an, Shaanxi 710127, China; Carbon Neutrality College (Yulin), Northwest University, Xi’an, Shaanxi 710127, China; Corresponding author
Summary: Microbes play an integral role in forest soil phosphorus (P) cycling. However, the variation of microbial P-cycling functional genes and their controlling factors in forest soils is unclearly. We used metagenomics to investigate changes in the abundance of genes involved in P-starvation response regulation, P-uptake and transport, and P-solubilization and mineralization along the five elevational gradients. Our results showed the abundance of three P cycling gene groups increasing along the elevational gradient. Acidobacteria and Proteobacteria were the dominant microbial phyla determining the turnover of soil P-solubilization and immobilization. Along the elevational gradient, soil substrates are the major factor explaining variation in P-starvation response regulation genes. Soil environment is the main driver of P-uptake and transport and P-solubilization and mineralization genes. This study provided insights into the regulation of P-cycling from a microbial functional profile perspective, highlighting the importance of substrate and environmental factors for P-cycling genes in forest soils.
