Both mutualistic and pathogenic soil microbes are known to play important roles in shaping the fitness of plants, likely affecting plants at different life cycle stages.In order to investigate the differential effects of native soil mutualists and pathogens on plant fitness, we compared survival and reproduction of two annual tallgrass prairie plant species ( and ) in a field study using 3 soil inocula treatments containing different compositions of microbes. The soil inocula types included fresh native whole soil taken from a remnant prairie containing both native mutualists and pathogens, soil enhanced with arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi derived from remnant prairies, and uninoculated controls.For both species, plants inoculated with native prairie AM fungi performed much better than those in uninoculated soil for all parts of the life cycle. Plants in the native whole prairie soil were either generally similar to plants in the uninoculated soil or had slightly higher survival or reproduction.Overall, these results suggest that native prairie AM fungi can have important positive effects on the fitness of early successional plants. As inclusion of prairie AM fungi and pathogens decreased plant fitness relative to prairie AM fungi alone, we expect that native pathogens also can have large effects on fitness of these annuals. Our findings support the use of AM fungi to enhance plant establishment in prairie restorations.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/ece3.6341 | DOI Listing |
Environ Microbiol
January 2025
Department of Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology, Centre for Microbial Ecology and Genomics, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa.
Plant detritus is abundant in grasslands but decomposes slowly and is relatively nutrient-poor, whereas animal carcasses are labile and nutrient-rich. Recent studies have demonstrated that labile nutrients from carcasses can significantly alter the long-term soil microbial function at an ecosystem scale. However, there is a paucity of knowledge on the functional and structural response and temporal scale of soil microbiomes beneath large herbivore carcasses.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFGlob Chang Biol
January 2025
Department of Renewable Resources, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada.
Soil microorganisms transform plant-derived C (carbon) into particulate organic C (POC) and mineral-associated C (MAOC) pools. While microbial carbon use efficiency (CUE) is widely recognized in current biogeochemical models as a key predictor of soil organic carbon (SOC) storage, large-scale empirical evidence is limited. In this study, we proposed and experimentally tested two predictors of POC and MAOC pool formation: microbial necromass (using amino sugars as a proxy) and CUE (by O-HO approach).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSci Rep
January 2025
International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), Human and Animal Health, Berlin, Germany.
Crimean Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) is a re-emerging tick-borne zoonosis that is caused by CCHF virus (CCHFV). The geographical distribution of the disease and factors that influence its occurrence are poorly known. We analysed historical records on its outbreaks in various countries across the sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) to identify hotspots and determine socioecological and demographicfactors associated with these outbreaks.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFEnviron Res
January 2025
Grassland and Forages Division, National Institute of Animal Science, Rural Development Administration, Cheonan, 31000, South Korea.
This article has been retracted: please see Elsevier Policy on Article Withdrawal (https://www.elsevier.com/locate/withdrawalpolicy).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFEnviron Int
January 2025
College of Natural Resources and Environment, Northwest A & F University, Yangling 712100 Shaanxi, China. Electronic address:
Soil biodiversity underpins multiple ecosystem functions and services essential for human well-being. Understanding the determinants of biodiversity-ecosystem function relationships (BEFr) is critical for the conservation and management of soil ecosystems. Community assembly processes determine community diversity and structure.
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