Loss of microbial diversity in soils is coincident with reductions in some specialized functions

TY - JOUR

T1 - Loss of microbial diversity in soils is coincident with reductions in some specialized functions

AU - Singh, Brajesh K.

AU - Quince, Christopher

AU - Macdonald, Catriona A.

AU - Khachane, Amit

AU - Thomas, Nadine

AU - Abu Al-Soud, Waleed

AU - Sørensen, Søren Johannes

AU - He, Zhili

AU - White, Duncan

AU - Sinclair, Alex

AU - Crooks, Bill

AU - Zhou, Jizhong

AU - Campbell, Colin D.

PY - 2014/8

Y1 - 2014/8

N2 - Summary: Loss of microbial diversity is considered a major threat because of its importance for ecosystem functions, but there is a lack of conclusive evidence that diversity itself is reduced under anthropogenic stress, and about the consequences of diversity loss. Heavy metals are one of the largest, widespread pollutant types globally, and these represent a significant environmental stressor for terrestrial microbial communities. Using combined metagenomics and functional assays, we show that the compositional and functional response of microbial communities to long-term heavy metal stress results in a significant loss of diversity. Our results indicate that even at a moderate loss of diversity, some key specialized functions (carried out by specific groups) may be compromised. Together with previous work, our data suggest disproportionate impact of contamination on microbes that carry out specialized, but essential, ecosystem functions. Based on these findings, we propose a conceptual framework to explicitly consider diversity of functions and microbial functional groups to test the relationship between biodiversity and soil functions.

AB - Summary: Loss of microbial diversity is considered a major threat because of its importance for ecosystem functions, but there is a lack of conclusive evidence that diversity itself is reduced under anthropogenic stress, and about the consequences of diversity loss. Heavy metals are one of the largest, widespread pollutant types globally, and these represent a significant environmental stressor for terrestrial microbial communities. Using combined metagenomics and functional assays, we show that the compositional and functional response of microbial communities to long-term heavy metal stress results in a significant loss of diversity. Our results indicate that even at a moderate loss of diversity, some key specialized functions (carried out by specific groups) may be compromised. Together with previous work, our data suggest disproportionate impact of contamination on microbes that carry out specialized, but essential, ecosystem functions. Based on these findings, we propose a conceptual framework to explicitly consider diversity of functions and microbial functional groups to test the relationship between biodiversity and soil functions.

U2 - 10.1111/1462-2920.12353

DO - 10.1111/1462-2920.12353

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 24422656

SN - 1462-2912

VL - 16

SP - 2408

EP - 2420

JO - Environmental Microbiology

JF - Environmental Microbiology

IS - 8

ER -