Initial responses of influential microbial taxa to metal elements lead
to alterations in the forest soil microbial community structure and
function
Abstract
As primary drivers of underlying microbial changes, soil metals have
been extensively studied in agroecosystems. However, while their
contributions to forest soil microbial processes are crucial for
maintaining tree biodiversity, they remain poorly understood. Based on
the analysis of 1287 soil samples collected from a 20 ha forest plot, we
show that seven metal elements (Al, Ca, Cu, Fe, Mg, Mn, and Zn) shape
microbial community structure and function by initially altering
influential microbial taxa. Microbial α-diversity and community
structure responded differently to these elements at low vs. high C:N
ratios, pH, and water content. Moreover, these elements also affected
microbial functional guilds (e.g., phosphorus and sulfur metabolism,
ectomycorrhizae, plant pathogens, and wood saprotrophs) via sensitive
microbial taxa. This study advances our capacity to predict belowground
microbial processes by revealing the fundamental importance of metals in
forest soils, with important implications for better conserving forest
biodiversity under global climate change.