TY - JOUR

T1 - Soil stoichiometry mediates links between tree functional diversity and soil microbial diversity in a temperate forest

AU - Sanaei, Anvar

AU - Sayer, Emma

AU - Yuan, Zuoqiang

AU - Lin, Fei

AU - Fang, Shuai

AU - Ye, Ji

AU - Liu, Shufang

AU - Hao, Zhanqing

AU - Wang, Xugao

N1 - The final publication is available at Springer via http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10021-021-00655-3

PY - 2022/3/31

Y1 - 2022/3/31

N2 - Interactions between plants and soil microbial communities underpin soil processes and forest ecosystem function, but the links between tree diversity and soil microbial diversity are poorly characterized. Differences in both the taxonomic and functional diversity of trees and microbes can shape soil nutrient status and carbon storage, but the stoichiometry of carbon and nutrients in the soil also influences resource availability to plant and microbial communities. Given the key role of resource availability in plant–soil interactions, we hypothesized that relationships between tree diversity metrics and soil bacterial or fungal diversity are mediated by soil stoichiometry. To test our hypothesis, we measured tree diversity metrics (tree species richness, functional trait diversity and functional trait composition) and soil stoichiometry in a temperate forest in China, and we determined soil microbial diversity by Illumina sequencing. We used structural equation models to assess the relationships between tree diversity metrics and soil bacterial or fungal diversity and to evaluate the influence of soil stoichiometry. Overall, microbial diversity was strongly related to soil stoichiometry, whereby fungal diversity was associated with high soil N/P ratios, whereas bacterial diversity was related to high soil C/P ratios. Soil bacterial and fungal diversity were more closely related to tree functional trait diversity and composition than to tree species richness, and the links between tree and soil microbial diversity were mediated by soil stoichiometry. The strong links between tree functional traits, soil stoichiometry and soil bacteria or fungi suggest that resource quality plays a key role in plant–microbial interactions. Our results highlight the importance of nutrient stoichiometry in linkages between tree functional diversity and soil microbial diversity.

AB - Interactions between plants and soil microbial communities underpin soil processes and forest ecosystem function, but the links between tree diversity and soil microbial diversity are poorly characterized. Differences in both the taxonomic and functional diversity of trees and microbes can shape soil nutrient status and carbon storage, but the stoichiometry of carbon and nutrients in the soil also influences resource availability to plant and microbial communities. Given the key role of resource availability in plant–soil interactions, we hypothesized that relationships between tree diversity metrics and soil bacterial or fungal diversity are mediated by soil stoichiometry. To test our hypothesis, we measured tree diversity metrics (tree species richness, functional trait diversity and functional trait composition) and soil stoichiometry in a temperate forest in China, and we determined soil microbial diversity by Illumina sequencing. We used structural equation models to assess the relationships between tree diversity metrics and soil bacterial or fungal diversity and to evaluate the influence of soil stoichiometry. Overall, microbial diversity was strongly related to soil stoichiometry, whereby fungal diversity was associated with high soil N/P ratios, whereas bacterial diversity was related to high soil C/P ratios. Soil bacterial and fungal diversity were more closely related to tree functional trait diversity and composition than to tree species richness, and the links between tree and soil microbial diversity were mediated by soil stoichiometry. The strong links between tree functional traits, soil stoichiometry and soil bacteria or fungi suggest that resource quality plays a key role in plant–microbial interactions. Our results highlight the importance of nutrient stoichiometry in linkages between tree functional diversity and soil microbial diversity.

KW - bacterial and fungal diversity

KW - forest soil stoichiometry

KW - functional trait composition

KW - tree functional trait diversity

KW - tree species richness

KW - plant–soil interactions

KW - soil microbial communities

U2 - 10.1007/s10021-021-00655-3

DO - 10.1007/s10021-021-00655-3

M3 - Journal article

VL - 25

SP - 291

EP - 307

JO - Ecosystems

JF - Ecosystems

SN - 1432-9840

IS - 2

ER -