Linking microbial co‐occurrences to soil ecological processes across a woodland‐grassland ecotone

Summary

This field-based study used network analysis to map soil microbial co-occurrences across a woodland-grassland ecotone, revealing how specific microbial guilds associate with distinct soil ecological processes. Bacterial ammonia oxidisers dominated nitrification, whilst phosphorus cycling and lignin degradation formed distinct functional clusters. The findings demonstrate that ecotones provide tractable natural models for understanding how microbial community structure underpins soil function across habitat transitions.

UK applicability

The methodological approach (geostatistical kriging, interkingdom network analysis) is applicable to UK woodland-grassland transitions and agricultural-natural habitat interfaces, though the specific microbial assemblages and environmental drivers may differ. Results may inform soil health assessment protocols in UK landscape management and conservation planning.

Key measures

Microbial community composition and diversity (archaea, bacteria, fungi OTUs); spatial patterns via geostatistical kriging; co-occurrence network analysis; soil properties (carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus); enzyme activities (phosphatase, lignolytic enzymes); potential nitrification rates (PNR); keystone taxa identification via Random Forest Analysis

Outcomes reported

The study characterised spatial patterns and co-occurrences of soil archaea, bacteria, and fungi across a woodland-grassland ecotone, and linked microbial network structures to specific soil ecological processes including nitrification and phosphorus cycling. Keystone taxa were identified using Random Forest Analysis, revealing soil carbon and nitrogen as key determinants of their abundance.

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