Warming enhanced the interaction effects of fungi and fungivores and soil potassium mineralization in tropical forest
Sun, Feng (South China Normal University. School of Life Sciences)
Yan, Guanzhao (South China Normal University. School of Life Sciences)
Lin, Wei (South China Normal University. School of Life Sciences)
He, Wei (South China Normal University. School of Life Sciences)
Cheng, Xianli (Chinese Academy of Sciences. South China Botanical Garden)
Li, Yingwen (Chinese Academy of Sciences. South China Botanical Garden)
Tariq, Akash (Chinese Academy of Sciences. Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography)
Sardans i Galobart, Jordi (Centre de Recerca Ecològica i d'Aplicacions Forestals)
Peñuelas, Josep (Centre de Recerca Ecològica i d'Aplicacions Forestals)
Wang, Jinchuang (Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences. Environmental and Plant Protection Institute)
Wang, Mei (South China Normal University. School of Geographic Sciences)
Li, Yuelin (Chinese Academy of Sciences. South China Botanical Garden)
Peng, Changliang (South China Normal University. School of Life Sciences)

Date:	2024
Abstract:	Potassium (K) cycling in forest systems has received less attention than nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) cycles, despite its critical role in maintaining primary production and regulating water economy and use under climate warming. This study conducted a 10-year study in which we translocated dominant tropical forest tree seedlings and underlying soil (i. e. , in situ soil) from high-altitude sites (600 m a. s. l. ) to lower altitude sites at 300 m a. s. l. (+1. 0 °C) and 30 m a. s. l. (+2. 1 °C) to simulate climate warming in southern China. We investigated soil microbial and nematode communities, soil and foliar K concentrations at the aggregate level, and tree growth under different altitude sites. Microbial community was characterized by high-throughput sequencing, nematodes were identified to the genus level using microscope. The findings revealed that warming treatments significantly (p < 0. 01) increased soil fungal gene abundance (+78 % at 300 m and +62 % at 30 m), fungal/bacterial abundance ratio (+121 % at 300 m and +101 % at 30 m), and soil fungivore abundance (+274 % at 300 m and +233 % at 30 m). These results indicate a shift in the soil decomposition pathway from bacterial to fungal-based channels. In addition, warming amplifies the interactions between fungi and fungivores. Aggregates had few effects on microbial biomass, but had significant effect on nematode abundance. Soil microcosm experiments consistently demonstrated that addition of the dominant fungivore Aphelenchoides significantly (p < 0. 05) enhanced soil-exchangeable K by stimulating fungal gene abundance and activity. Furthermore, warming-induced changes in forest communities were observed. At the species-specific tree level, Syzygium rehderianum demonstrated the ability to take advantage of this scenario, exhibiting increased K uptake (-4% at 300 m and +32 % at 30 m). This may be attributed to the species being ectomycorrhizal-forming, where colonizing root surfaces can mobilize interlayer and structural K from the minerals. In contrast, Machilus breviflora exhibited lower foliar K concentrations (-42 % at 300 m and -41 % at 30 m) and reduced growth. However, warming had little effect on Schima superba, Myrsine seguinii, Itea chinensis, and Ardisia lindleyana growth. Warming-induced changes in the plant-soil system K cycle highlight the emergence of a new ecosystem structure with different soil web structures and distinct plant community species composition. Our results prompt further research to understand the microbiome-mediated complexities of understudied nutrient cycles, which are likely to be further altered in the future owing to climate change.
Grants:	Agencia Estatal de Investigación PID2022-140808NB-I00 Agencia Estatal de Investigación TED2021-132627B-I00 Agencia Estatal de Investigación PID2020-115770RB-I00 Agència de Gestió d'Ajuts Universitaris i de Recerca 2021/SGR-1333
Rights:	Aquest document està subjecte a una llicència d'ús Creative Commons. Es permet la reproducció total o parcial, la distribució, i la comunicació pública de l'obra, sempre que no sigui amb finalitats comercials, i sempre que es reconegui l'autoria de l'obra original. No es permet la creació d'obres derivades.
Language:	Anglès
Document:	Article ; recerca ; Versió acceptada per publicar
Subject:	Tropical forests ; Warming ; Potassium mineralization ; Microbial and nematode community ; Microbial-nematode interaction
Published in:	Catena, Vol. 243 (August 2024) , art. 108229, ISSN 1872-6887

DOI: 10.1016/j.catena.2024.108229

Available from: 2026-08-30 Postprint

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Research literature > UAB research groups literature > Research Centres and Groups (research output) > Experimental sciences > CREAF (Centre de Recerca Ecològica i d'Aplicacions Forestals)
Articles > Research articles
Articles > Published articles