Soil microbial communities drive the resistance of ecosystem multifunctionality to global change in drylands across the globe

The relationship between soil microbial communities and the resistance of multiple ecosystem functions linked to C, N and P cycling (multifunctionality resistance) to global change has never been assessed globally in natural ecosystems. We collected soils from 59 dryland ecosystems worldwide to investigate the importance of microbial communities as predictor of multifunctionality resistance to climate change and nitrogen fertilisation. Multifunctionality had a lower resistance to wetting–drying cycles than to warming or N deposition. Multifunctionality resistance was regulated by changes in microbial composition (relative abundance of phylotypes) but not by richness, total abundance of fungi and bacteria or the fungal: bacterial ratio. Our results suggest that positive effects of particular microbial taxa on multifunctionality resistance could potentially be controlled by altering soil pH. Together, our work demonstrates strong links between microbial community composition and multifunctionality resistance in dryland soils from six continents, and provides insights into the importance of microbial community composition for buffering effects of global change in drylands worldwide.     

Soil fertility shifts the relative importance of saprotrophic and mycorrhizal fungi for maintaining ecosystem stability

Soil microbial communities are essential for regulating the dynamics of plant productivity. However, how soil microbes mediate temporal stability of plant productivity at large scales across various soil fertility conditions remains unclear. Here, we combined a regional survey of 51 sites in the temperate grasslands of northern China with a global grassland survey of 120 sites to assess the potential roles of soil microbial diversity in regulating ecosystem stability. The temporal stability of plant productivity was quantified as the ratio of the mean normalized difference vegetation index to its standard deviation. Soil fungal diversity, but not bacterial diversity, was positively associated with ecosystem stability, and particular fungal functional groups determined ecosystem stability under contrasting conditions of soil fertility. The richness of soil fungal saprobes was positively correlated with ecosystem stability under high-fertility conditions, while a positive relationship was observed with the richness of mycorrhizal fungi under low-fertility conditions. These relationships were maintained after accounting for plant diversity and environmental factors. Our findings highlight the essential role of fungal diversity in maintaining stable grassland productivity, and suggest that future studies incorporating fungal functional groups into biodiversity–stability relationships will advance our understanding of their linkages under different fertility conditions.     

Local stability properties of complex,species‐rich soil food webs with functional block structure

Ecologists have long debated the properties that confer stability to complex, species‐rich ecological networks. Species‐level soil food webs are large and structured networks of central importance to ecosystem functioning. Here, we conducted an analysis of the stability properties of an up‐to‐date set of theoretical soil food web models that account both for realistic levels of species richness and the most recent views on the topological structure (who is connected to whom) of these food webs. The stability of the network was best explained by two factors: strong correlations between interaction strengths and the blocked, nonrandom trophic structure of the web. These two factors could stabilize our model food webs even at the high levels of species richness that are typically found in soil, and that would make random systems very unstable. Also, the stability of our soil food webs is well‐approximated by the cascade model. This result suggests that stability could emerge from the hierarchical structure of the functional organization of the web. Our study shows that under the assumption of equilibrium and small perturbations, theoretical soil food webs possess a topological structure that allows them to be complex yet more locally stable than their random counterpart. In particular, results strongly support the general hypothesis that the stability of rich and complex soil food webs is mostly driven by correlations in interaction strength and the organization of the soil food web into functional groups. The implication is that in real‐world food web, any force disrupting the functional structure and distribution pattern of interaction strengths (i.e., energy fluxes) of the soil food webs will destabilize the dynamics of the system, leading to species extinction and major changes in the relative abundances of species.     

TMV resistance gene N homologues are linked to Synchytrium endobioticum resistance in potato

 The fungus Synchytrium endobioticum, the causal agent of potato wart disease, is subject to world-wide quarKantine regulations due to the production of persistent resting spores and lack of effective chemical control measures. The selection of Synchytrium-resistant potato cultivars may be facilitated by using markers closely linked with a resistance gene or by transferring a cloned gene for resistance into susceptible cultivars. Sen1, a gene for resistance to Synchytrium endobioticum race 1, was localized on potato chromosome XI in a genomic region which is related to the tobacco genome segment harbouring the N gene for resistance to TMV. Using N as probe, we isolated homologous cDNA clones from a Synchytrium-resistant potato line. The N-homologous sequences of potato identified by RFLP mapping a family of resistance gene-like sequences closely linked with the Sen1 locus. Sequence analysis of two full-length N-homologous cDNA clones revealed the presence of structural domains associated with resistance gene function. One clone (Nl-25) encodes a polypeptide of 61 kDa and harbours a Toll-interleukin like region (TIR) and a putative nucleotide binding site (NBS). The other clone (Nl-27) encodes a polypeptide of 95 kDa and harbours besides the TIR and NBS domains five imperfect leucine-rich repeats (LRRs). Both clones have at their amino terminus a conserved stretch of serine residues that was also found in the N gene, the RPP5 gene from Arabidopsis thaliana and several other resistance gene homologues, suggesting a function in the resistance response. Cloning of the disease resistance locus based on map position and the establishment of PCR-based marker assays to assist selection of wart resistant potato genotypes are discussed. Received: 4 August 1998 / Accepted: 14 August 1998     

植物功能性状与湿地生态系统土壤碳汇功能

湿地生态系统碳平衡对气候变化极为敏感,是陆地生态系统碳循环响应全球变化的重要环节。然而,湿地生态系统碳汇调节机制仍不十分清楚,并且对影响因子的研究多集中在非生物因子上。综述了植物功能性状和功能性状多样性对湿地生态系统土壤碳汇功能的影响,阐明了生物因子对生态系统碳循环响应全球变化的重要性,介绍了植物功能性状对生态系统碳输入和输出过程的影响,简述了植物功能性状多样性的研究现状及其在指示生态系统碳汇功能现状和预测未来趋势等方面的应用。从优势植物、植物种间关系和植物-微生物种间关系3方面总结了植物功能性状多样性直接和间接影响生态系统碳循环的途径。展望了植物功能性状和功能性状多样性与湿地生态系统土壤碳汇功能的研究前景。     

Proportions of different habitat types are critical to the fate of a resistance allele

We describe a simple deterministic theoretical framework for analysing the gene frequency evolution of two alternative alleles at a single genetic locus in a habitat comprising two environments in which the genotypes have different relative fitnesses. We illustrate this for adaptation of pest insects, where one allele (resistance to toxins expressed in transgenic crops) is favoured in one environment (transgenic plants) and the other allele (susceptibility to toxins) is favoured in the other environment (‘refuges’ of non-transgenic plants). The evolution of allele frequencies depends on selection pressure because of relative sizes of the environments and relative fitnesses of the genotypes in each environment. We demonstrate that there are critical threshold proportions for habitat division that determine equilibrium allele frequencies. The stability of the system depends on relationships between the relative genotype fitnesses. In some cases, the division of the habitat in exactly the threshold proportions removes selection pressure and maintains polymorphism at all allele frequencies.     

不同林龄杉木+闽楠复层林土壤磷形态及微生物功能多样性变化

磷是限制亚热带地区林木生长的关键因素之一,研究土壤微生物群落功能多样性对土壤磷素的影响,对亚热带地区人工林可持续经营具有重要意义。在江西官山林场选取了3种不同林龄杉木+闽楠（4 a、7 a、11 a）复层林为研究对象,测定了土壤全磷、有效磷及无机磷组分含量,采用Biolog-ECO法研究了复层林表土层（0-20 cm）土壤微生物群落对碳源的利用特征,并分析了土壤磷素与土壤微生物功能多样性的关系。结果表明：（1）土壤全磷、有效磷及无机磷组分含量随复层林营建时间延长呈增加趋势;（2）不同林分类型土壤微生物群落功能多样性差异显著。土壤微生物碳源代谢活性（AWCD）以及多样性指数也均随复层林营建时间延长呈增加趋势;多聚物类是杉木纯林土壤微生物利用的主要碳源,7 a复层林对碳水化合物、羧酸和酚酸的利用强度较大,11 a复层林对氨基酸、胺类、多聚物、羧酸和酚酸的利用强度较大,并且11 a复层林土壤微生物群落代谢碳水化合物、氨基酸、羧酸、胺类和酚酸的强度显著高于4 a复层林和杉木纯林,而4 a复层林与杉木纯林土壤微生物群落对不同碳源利用率的差异较小（除多聚物外）。（3）土壤微生物多样性指数、氨基酸类、胺类和酚酸类物质与土壤全磷、有效磷、Al-P和Fe-P含量之间显著正相关,随机森林模型分析表明,氨基酸、胺类和酚酸是不同林分类型土壤微生物利用的主要碳源。因此,杉木纯林转化为复层异龄林更有利于森林土壤磷的储存和供应,土壤微生物群落代谢功能多样性的增大可能是提高复层异龄林土壤磷有效性的关键调控因素。     

Soil biota diversity and plant diversity both contributed to ecosystem stability in grasslands

Understanding the effects of diversity on ecosystem stability in the context of global change has become an important goal of recent ecological research. However, the effects of diversity at multiple scales and trophic levels on ecosystem stability across environmental gradients remain unclear. Here, we conducted a field survey of α-, β-, and γ-diversity of plants and soil biota (bacteria, fungi, and nematodes) and estimated the temporal ecosystem stability of normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) in 132 plots on the Mongolian Plateau. After climate and soil environmental variables were controlled for, both the α- and β-diversity of plants and soil biota (mainly via nematodes) together with precipitation explained most variation in ecosystem stability. These findings evidence that the diversity of both soil biota and plants contributes to ecosystem stability. Model predictions of the future effects of global changes on terrestrial ecosystem stability will require field observations of diversity of both plants and soil biota.     

Functional and structural stability are linked in phytoplankton metacommunities of different connectivity

The diversity–stability debate is a long‐standing issue in ecology, asking whether more diverse communities show higher stability over time and more rapid recovery from disturbances. Connection to undisturbed habitats is thought to affect compositional and functional stability after disturbances. Therefore, we established marine phytoplankton metacommunities consisting of three microcosms (local patches), which were connected by tubes opened for different time intervals to create 5 levels of connectivity. We performed two experiments differing by homogeneous (HOM) or heterogeneous (HET) supply of irradiance across patches. As disturbance we either removed 75% of the algal biomass locally from one randomly chosen patch, or 25 or 75% regionally from each local patch. By comparing these treatments to an undisturbed control, we analyzed resilience (rate of recovery) and final recovery (recovery ratio) with regard to biomass (functional stability) and species composition (structural stability). In both experiments (HET, HOM), functional and structural aspects of stability responded significantly to connectivity and disturbance treatments. Functional resilience was enhanced by increasing connectivity (HET and HOM), which partially also increased functional recovery (HET) and structural resilience (HOM). By contrast, the treatment‐induced gradients in diversity (species richness and evenness) had no clear effect on functional resilience or recovery. Instead, structural and functional resilience were strongly correlated regardless of patch quality, indicating that only a full recovery in community composition ensured functional stability. Our findings suggest that connectivity plays a pivotal role in maintaining ecosystem stability under pulse disturbance such that a more complete understanding of stability requires spatially explicit approaches.     

西花蓟马对烯啶虫胺、噻虫胺和噻虫嗪的抗性风险和抗性稳定性

为明确使用新烟碱类杀虫剂烯啶虫胺、噻虫胺和噻虫嗪防治入侵害虫西花蓟马的抗性风险及抗性稳定性,本研究采用芸豆浸药法对西花蓟马敏感种群初羽化雌成虫进行连续筛选获得抗性种群,根据抗性现实遗传力计算公式分析西花蓟马对上述3种杀虫剂的抗性风险,预测其抗性发展速度,并测定抗性稳定性。结果表明: 经过30代抗性筛选,西花蓟马对烯啶虫胺、噻虫胺和噻虫嗪均达到高水平抗性(44.7、45.5和32.7倍)。西花蓟马对噻虫胺、烯啶虫胺和噻虫嗪的抗性发展速度依次降低,抗性现实遗传力分别为0.1503、0.1336和0.1258。对抗性种群在无选择压力下继续饲养10代,西花蓟马对烯啶虫胺、噻虫胺和噻虫嗪的抗性水平均出现一定程度的下降,但均未能恢复到敏感性水平。抗性选育后,西花蓟马若虫与成虫对杀虫剂的敏感性差异显著缩小,西花蓟马敏感种群及抗性种群若虫对上述3种杀虫剂的敏感性显著高于成虫。西花蓟马对烯啶虫胺、噻虫胺和噻虫嗪均存在高抗风险,噻虫嗪的抗性上升速度较慢且抗性稳定性最低。因此,在西花蓟马若虫期使用噻虫嗪有利于西花蓟马防治。     

Urban stream denitrifier communities are linked to lower functional resistance to multiple stressors associated with urbanization

The microbial communities in urban stream ecosystems are subject to complex combinations of stressors. These same microbial communities perform the critical ecosystem service of removing excess reactive nitrogen. We asked whether the denitrifying microbial communities in urban streams differ in their functional resistance to common urban stressors from communities from nonurban streams. We exposed inocula from a highly polluted urban stream and a nearby nonurban stream to three different stressors, added alone and in combination. Stressors represent the common urban impacts of thermal pollution (10°C), trace metal exposure (ionic silver (Ag⁺)), and salinization (addition of NaCl). We used reduction in nitrite (NO₂ ^?) concentrations under anaerobic conditions as a proxy for denitrification potential. Nonurban stream denitrifying microbial communities were more diverse than their urban counterparts. Denitrification potential for both communities was unaffected by exposure to any individual stressor. However, denitrification rates by the less diverse urban microbial inoculum decreased in response to combined heavy metal and salt stress, while nonurban communities were unaffected. These findings support the hypothesis that higher diversity may confer greater functional resistance in response to multiple stressors and do not support the idea that stressful conditions select for communities that are functionally resilient to multiple stressors.     

功能多样性和功能冗余对高寒草甸群落稳定性的影响

功能多样性和功能冗余是影响群落稳定性的重要因素,但它们对稳定性影响的相对强弱尚有争论。通过在青藏高原高寒矮嵩草(Kobresia humilis)草甸为期6a的刈割(不刈割、留茬3cm、留茬1cm)和施肥(施肥、不施肥)控制实验对此进行了探讨。研究结果显示,群落稳定性随着功能多样性和功能冗余的增大而单调增加,但由于功能多样性的变异性大于功能冗余的变异性,功能多样性与物种多样性间的相关性强于功能冗余与物种多样性间的相关性,功能多样性与群落稳定性间的相关性也强于功能冗余与群落稳定性间的相关性,因此,尽管功能冗余产生的保险效应对维持群落稳定性具有促进作用,但功能多样性的互补效应对维持群落稳定性的作用更大。结果表明,功能多样性和功能冗余对群落稳定性的相对影响与其变化程度正相关,功能多样性与群落稳定性的变化具有更紧密的联系,能更好地预测生态系统稳定性的变化。研究为草原生态系统的可持续管理提供了重要启示。     

Trade-offs and synergies between ecosystem productivity and stability in temperate grasslands

Aim

It is crucial to monitor how the productivity of grasslands varies with its temporal stability for management of these ecosystems. However, identifying the direction of the productivity–stability relationship remains challenging because ecological stability has multiple components that can display neutral, positive or negative covariations. Furthermore, evidence suggests that the direction of the productivity–stability relationship depends on the biotic interactions and abiotic conditions that underlie ecosystem productivity and stability. We decipher the relationships between grassland productivity and two components of its stability in four habitat types with contrasting environments and flora.

Location

France.

Time period

2000–2020.

Major taxa

Grassland plant species.

Methods

We used c. 20,000 vegetation plots spread across French permanent grasslands and remotely sensed vegetation indices to quantify grassland productivity and temporal stability. We decomposed stability into constancy (i.e., temporal invariability) and resistance (i.e., maximum deviation from average) and deciphered the direct and indirect effects of abiotic (namely growing season length and nitrogen input) and biotic (namely plant taxonomic diversity, trait diversity and community-weighted mean traits) factors on productivity–stability relationships using structural equation models.

Results

We found a positive relationship between productivity and constancy and a negative relationship between productivity and resistance in all habitats. Abiotic factors had stronger effects on productivity and stability compared with biotic factors. A longer growing season enhanced grassland productivity and constancy. Nitrogen input had positive and negative effects on grassland productivity and resistance, respectively. Trait values affected the constancy and resistance of grassland more than taxonomic and trait diversity, with effects varying from one habitat to another. Productivity was not related to any biotic factor.

Main conclusions

Our findings reveal how vital it is to consider both the multiple components of stability and the interaction between environment and biodiversity to gain an understanding of the relationships between productivity and stability in real-world ecosystems, which is a crucial step for sustainable grassland management.     

Genes homologous to glycopeptide resistance vanA are widespread in soil microbial communities

The occurrence of d-Ala : d-Lac ligase genes homologous to glycopeptide resistance vanA was studied in samples of agricultural (n=9) and garden (n=3) soil by culture-independent methods. Cloning and sequencing of nested degenerate PCR products obtained from soil DNA revealed the occurrence of d-Ala : d-Ala ligase genes unrelated to vanA. In order to enhance detection of vanA-homologous genes, a third PCR step was added using primers targeting vanA in soil Paenibacillus. Sequencing of 25 clones obtained by this method allowed recovery of 23 novel sequences having 86-100% identity with vanA in enterococci. Such sequences were recovered from all agricultural samples as well as from two garden samples with no history of organic fertilization. The results indicated that soil is a rich and assorted reservoir of genes closely related to those conferring glycopeptide resistance in clinical bacteria.     

噬菌体粉剂的制备及抗逆性与稳定性

【背景】细菌耐药已成为全球严重的公共卫生问题,养殖业是细菌耐药性产生的重要源头之一。我国正在全力推进"减抗、限抗、禁抗"战略。新型安全高效的抗生素替代品成为当前养殖业的重要需求。噬菌体因其能有效裂解细菌被认为是一个重要的突破口,但噬菌体作为活体微生物,在保存和使用时存在稳定性差、利用率低等问题。【目的】制备噬菌体粉剂,提高噬菌体的抗逆性和稳定性,为噬菌体在养殖业中的应用提供技术支持。【方法】选用大肠杆菌噬菌体BpEP4,采用嵌段式聚醚F-68包被噬菌体,然后负载于脱脂米糠制得噬菌体粉剂,双层琼脂平板法测定粉剂的噬菌体效价,研究其耐高温性能、pH稳定性与常温保存稳定性。【结果】噬菌体粉剂可以在100℃保持噬菌体的活性,pH耐受范围为2.0-12.0。常温下保存3个月噬菌体效价无明显降低。【结论】粉剂显著提高了噬菌体的抗逆性与稳定性,具有很好的应用价值和推广前景。     

荒漠植物功能性状及其多样性对土壤水盐变化的响应

植物功能性状及其多样性对环境变化的响应研究有助于揭示极端环境下植物适应策略和群落构建机制。通过实地调查和实验分析,研究艾比湖荒漠植物形态、生理和化学等8个功能性状的特征,并从多维性状和一维性状角度揭示功能多样性对土壤水分和盐分变化的响应规律。结果表明:高水盐环境下(SW1),(1)群落加权株高、叶绿素含量(SPAD)及叶片碳(C)和钙(Ca)含量显著高于低水盐环境,叶片氮(N)、磷(P)、硫(S)含量在不同水盐环境间无显著差异。(2)SW1环境下,沿乔木-小乔木-灌木-草本层次,上层生活型植物性状值普遍高于下层植物,其中灌木叶片仅N、钾(K)含量显著高于草本;沿该生活型层次植物性状呈趋同变化。(3)低水盐环境下(SW2),乔木叶片性状差异特征与SW1相似;小乔木叶片C、N含量分别显著高于和低于灌木及草本;相比于草本,灌木SPAD、S含量显著高,K含量显著低,株高、C、N、P含量差异不显著;SW2环境下各生活型植物性状呈趋同变化。(4)SW1环境下多维功能丰富度、功能离散度显著高于SW2环境,但均匀度无显著差异。(5)一维功能均匀度在不同水盐环境间均无显著差异,但化学性状的均匀度总体高于植物株高;高水盐环境下叶片N、S和Ca的功能分异指数显著高于低水盐环境。研究为掌握胁迫环境下的植物适应策略和荒漠植被恢复提供参考。     

地形和土壤特性对亚热带常绿阔叶林内植物功能性状的影响

植物功能性状与环境之间的关系是功能性状研究的核心问题.为了探讨地形和土壤特性的差异对亚热带常绿阔叶林植物功能性状的影响,并找到影响古田山亚热带常绿阔叶林植物形态和生理性状的主要环境驱动因子,我们于2008年和2009年夏天在古田山国家级自然保护区内24 ha大型监测样地测定了147个样方中115种常见木本植物的功能性状.所测性状包括3个生理生态性状(叶绿素含量、叶绿素荧光参数Fv/Fm和PIABS和枝条比导率)和4个形态性状(气孔密度、叶厚度、比叶面积和叶长/宽比).结合地形数据(平均海拔、凹凸度、坡度和坡向)和土壤数据(含水量、全氮含量、全磷含量、全碳含量和pH值),分析影响这些功能性状的主要驱动因子.排序结果显示,叶绿素含量随海拔和凹凸度的上升而下降,但与土壤中的氮含量和水分含量旱现正相关关系.由于古田山土壤呈酸性,土壤磷素缺乏,叶绿素荧光参数Fv/Fm和PIABS与土壤氮、磷含量呈现显著的负相关.枝条比导率与土壤含水量具有较为显著的正相关关系.比叶面积与海拔呈现正相关关系.研究结果表明,在小尺度上,海拔和凹凸度是影响亚热带常绿阔叶林植物功能性状晟关键的两个地形因子,而土壤含水量和伞氮含量是影响该地植物功能性状最主要的土壤因子.然而,由于土壤中磷的缺乏,诸如植物光合作用等一些重要的生理过程受到影响,使得某些性状与环境因子之间呈现出不同寻常的相关关系.     

紫胶生产系统对节肢动物不同功能群的影响路径和强度研究

土地利用方式的转换对农业生态系统中节肢动物不同功能群之间的相互作用关系有显著的影响.本研究通过调查不同经营方式的紫胶林中蚂蚁Formicidae和紫胶虫寄生蜂的多样性情况,探究紫胶生产系统对这两种功能群之间相互关系的影响路径和强度.于2018年4-9月,在临沧市云县两块不同的紫胶林样地中放置了树栖陷阱和地表陷阱用于收集蚂蚁,并用套笼法收集紫胶虫Kerria spp.的寄生蜂.结果表明:有地表覆盖的紫胶林样地(X2)中地表蚂蚁的多度显著高于无地表覆盖样地(X1)(F=7.256,P=0.011),而X2样地紫胶虫寄生蜂的物种丰富度(F=20.250,P=0.003)和多度(F=17.108,P=0.003)却显著低于X1样地.地表覆盖对树栖蚂蚁(β=0.787,P<0.001)和地表蚂蚁(β=0.652,P=0.004)均有显著的积极影响,而地表覆盖(β=-0.932,P<0.001)及地表蚂蚁(β=-0.362,P=0.039)对寄生蜂多度有显著的负面影响.本研究揭示了紫胶生产系统中,地表覆盖有利于维系蚂蚁-紫胶虫互利关系,抑制紫胶虫寄生蜂,从而对紫胶生产产生积极作用.     

上海宝钢工业区凋落物中土壤动物群落结构及季节变化

为探讨城市工业区凋落物中土壤动物的群落特征, 作者于2005年夏季至2006年春季, 对上海市宝山钢铁公司厂区不同功能区(生产区、过渡区和办公区)凋落物中的土壤动物进行了调查。共捕获土壤动物52,070 只, 分别隶属于3门10纲19目, 优势类群为蜱螨目和弹尾目, 二者共占总数的90.60%; 常见类群为鳞翅目和近孔寡毛目。不同功能区的优势类群相同, 常见类群相异, 且土壤动物总密度随着生产区-过渡区-办公区呈现递减趋势; 不同功能区凋落物和不同绿化类型(乔木和灌木)中的5种指数呈现规律不同: Simpson优势度指数(C)、Margalef丰富度指数(D)为中间过渡区高, 两边区域低; Pielou均匀度指数(E)为生产区>办公区>过渡区; DG指数和Shannon-Wiener多样性指数表现为生产区>过渡区>办公区; 凋落物中土壤动物数量的季节变化为冬季>秋季>夏季>春季, 而类群数量为冬季=秋季>夏季=春季; 不同功能区凋落物pH值、有机碳、总氮和总磷含量不同, 其中pH值、总氮达到显著性差异, 对凋落物中土壤动物有一定影响。