Global soil microbiomes: A new frontline of biome‐ecology research

• DOI: 10.1111/geb.13487
• Publication Date: 2022-03-14T11:35:54Z
• Authors: Martti Vasar; John Davison; Siim‐Kaarel Sepp; Ladislav Mucina; Jane Oja; Saleh Al‐Quraishy; Sten Anslan; Mohammad Bahram; C. Guillermo Bueno; Juan José Cantero; Guillaume Decocq; Lauchlan Fraser; Inga Hiiesalu; Wael N. Hozzein; Kadri Koorem; Yiming Meng; Mari Moora; Vladimir Onipchenko; Maarja Öpik; Meelis Pärtel; Tanel Vahter; Leho Tedersoo; Martin Zobel
• Keywords: Biome

Abstract Aim Organisms on our planet form spatially congruent and functionally distinct communities, which at large geographical scales are called “biomes”. Understanding their pattern function is vital for sustainable use protection of biodiversity. Current global terrestrial biome classifications based primarily climate characteristics functional aspects plant community assembly. These other existing schemes do not take account soil organisms, including highly diverse important microbial groups. We aimed to define large‐scale structure in the diversity microbes (soil microbiomes), pinpoint environmental drivers shaping it identify resemblance mismatch with schemes. Location Global. Time period Current. Major taxa studied Soil eukaryotes prokaryotes. Methods collected samples from natural environments world‐wide, incorporating most known biomes. used high‐throughput sequencing characterize biotic communities k ‐means clustering microbiomes describing eukaryotic prokaryotic climatic data variables measured field microbiome structure. Results recorded strong correlations among fungal, bacterial, archaeal, animal defined a system (producing seven types six prokaryotes) showed that these typically structured by pH alongside temperature. None directly paralleled any current scheme, substantial prokaryotes cold climates; nor they consistently distinguish grassland forest ecosystems. Main conclusions Existing represent limited surrogate patterns organisms. show empirically attainable using metabarcoding statistical approaches suggest can have wide application theoretical applied biodiversity research.