Protist species richness and soil microbiome complexity increase towards climax vegetation in the Brazilian Cerrado

• DOI: 10.1038/s42003-018-0129-0
• Publication Date: 2018-08-29T17:45:07Z
• Authors: Ademir Sergio Fer...; Lucas William Mendes; Leandro Nasciment...; Jadson Emanuel Lo...; Jose Evando Aguia...; Maria do Carmo Ca...; Marcia do Vale Ba...; Ângela Celis de A...; Regina Lucia Ferr...; Walderly Melgaço ...; Vania Maria Macie...; Fabio Fernando de...; Stefan Geisen
• Keywords: Climax; Protist; Soil bacteria

Abstract Biodiversity underlies ecosystem functioning. While aboveground biodiversity is often well studied, the belowground microbiome, in particular protists, remains largely unknown. Indeed, holistic insights into soil microbiome structures natural soils, especially hyperdiverse biomes such as Brazilian Cerrado, remain unexplored. Here, we study across four major vegetation zones of ranging from grass-dominated to tree-dominated with a focus on protists. We show that protist taxon richness increases towards climax vegetation. Early successional habitats consisting primary grass host most potential plant pathogens and least animal parasites. Using network analyses combining prokaryotic fungal sequences, complexity Together, this suggests protists are key components succession stimulated by higher loads pathogens. At same time, an increase might enhance system stability.