02076nas a2200313 4500008004100000245008700041210006900128260001200197300001100209490000800220520114900228653002801377653002701405653002401432653002401456653001301480653000901493100001301502700002501515700001601540700002201556700001701578700001801595700001601613700002401629700002001653700001701673856007201690 2023 eng d00aEcological stoichiometry drives the evolution of soil nematode life history traits0 aEcological stoichiometry drives the evolution of soil nematode l c02/2023 a1088910 v1773 a

Ecological stoichiometry is a useful theoretical framework for understanding the sources and controls on nutrient availability that structure the composition and diversity of biotic communities. One such relationship is that organismal development rate is positively linked to cellular Phosphorus (P). We hypothesized that P availability, relative to other nutrients, e.g., nitrogen and carbon, would drive the evolution of traits associated with organismal growth and development. We examined the effects of P availability both in situ and in vitro, on free-living soil nematodes. We found that P-deficient environments produce predictable changes in the ecology and evolution of important life history traits. Our results identify altered rRNA gene copy number and subsequent changes in gene expression and protein synthesis as mechanisms by which P-deficiency influences these traits. These findings have important implications for explaining soil ecological and evolutionary patterns across multiple levels of organization, including the structure and functioning of organisms, populations, communities, and ecosystems.

10aelemental stoichiometry10agrowth rate hypothesis10alife history theory10amolecular evolution10anematoda10arRNA1 aXue, Xia1 aAdhikari, Bishwo, N.1 aBall, Becky1 aBarrett, John, E.1 aMiao, Jinxin1 aPerkes, Ammon1 aMartin, Mac1 aSimmons, Breana, L.1 aWall, Diana, H.1 aAdams, Byron uhttps://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S003807172200348002579nas a2200397 4500008004100000022001300041245012700054210006900181260001200250300001100262490000600273520134500279653003401624653002501658653003101683653002701714653001801741653001401759100002201773700002401795700002201819700002301841700002301864700001401887700001901901700001601920700002101936700002701957700002601984700001602010700002402026700001602050700002102066700002202087856007202109 2021 eng d a2666900500aPatterns and trends of organic matter processing and transport: Insights from the US Long-term Ecological Research Network0 aPatterns and trends of organic matter processing and transport I c12/2021 a1000250 v23 a

Organic matter (OM) dynamics determine how much carbon is stored in ecosystems, a service that modulates climate. We synthesized research from across the US Long-Term Ecological Research (LTER) Network to assemble a conceptual model of OM dynamics that is consistent with inter-disciplinary perspectives and emphasizes vulnerability of OM pools to disturbance. Guided by this conceptual model, we identified unanticipated patterns and long-term trends in processing and transport of OM emerging from terrestrial, freshwater, wetland, and marine ecosystems. Cross-ecosystem synthesis combined with a survey of researchers revealed several themes: 1) strong effects of climate change on OM dynamics, 2) surprising patterns in OM storage and dynamics resulting from coupling with nutrients, 3) characteristic and often complex legacies of land use and disturbance, 4) a significant role of OM transport that is often overlooked in terrestrial ecosystems, and 5) prospects for reducing uncertainty in forecasting OM dynamics by incorporating the chemical composition of OM. Cross-fertilization of perspectives and approaches across LTER sites and other research networks can stimulate the comprehensive understanding required to support large-scale characterizations of OM budgets and the role of ecosystems in regulating global climate.

10acoupled biogeochemical cycles10across-site synthesis10aorganic matter composition10aorganic matter storage10astabilization10atransport1 aHarms, Tamara, K.1 aGroffman, Peter, M.1 aAluwihare, Lihini1 aCraft, Christopher1 aWieder, William, R1 aHobbie, S1 aBaer, Sara, G.1 aBlair, J.M.1 aFrey, Serita, D.1 aRemucal, Christina, K.1 aRudgers, Jennifer, A.1 aCollins, SL1 aKominoski, John, S.1 aBall, Becky1 aPriscu, John, C.1 aBarrett, John, E. uhttps://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S266690052100025302639nas a2200301 4500008004100000245008400041210006900125260001200194520169800206653001501904653002101919653002401940653002701964653001301991100002102004700002602025700001702051700001602068700002502084700002502109700001702134700002202151700002302173700002002196700002402216700002402240856007302264 2019 eng d00aThe hydroecology of an ephemeral wetland in the McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica0 ahydroecology of an ephemeral wetland in the McMurdo Dry Valleys  c11/20193 a

The McMurdo Dry Valleys (MDV) is a polar desert on the coast of East Antarctica where ephemeral wetlands become hydrologically active during warm and sunny summers when sub‐surface flows are generated from melting snowfields. To understand the structure and function of polar wetland ecosystems, we investigated the hydroecology of one such wetland, the Wormherder Creek wetland, during the warm and sunny summer of 2008 – 2009, when the wetland was hydrologically reactivated. Conservative tracer (LiCl) was injected for a 2‐hour period into a stream above the wetland to determine flow path orientations and hydrologic residence times. Tracer results indicated that surface water is rapidly exchanged with wetland groundwater and wetland residence times may exceed two austral summers. Major ion concentrations were uniform in samples from surface water and shallow groundwater throughout the wetland. Microbial mats in the wetland had high autotrophic index values (the ratios of chlorophyll a [Chl‐a]/ash‐free dry mass [AFDM]), ranging from 9‐38 μg Chl‐a/mg AFDM, indicative of actively photosynthesizing mat communities. The diatom communities in the mats were relatively uniform compared to those in mats from regularly flowing MDV streams, with four endemic and one widespread diatom taxa of the genus Luticola accounting for an average of 86% of the community. These results indicate that the hydrologic characteristics of the wetland contribute to uniform geochemical conditions. In turn, uniform geochemical conditions may explain the high autotrophic index values of the microbial mats and relatively low spatial variation of the diatom community.

10aAntarctica10adesert hydrology10adiatom biodiversity10ahyporheic interactions10awetlands1 aWlostowski, Adam1 aSchulte, Nicholas, O.1 aAdams, Byron1 aBall, Becky1 aEsposito, Rhea, M.M.1 aGooseff, Michael, N.1 aLyons, Berry1 aNielsen, Uffe, N.1 aVirginia, Ross, A.1 aWall, Diana, H.1 aWelch, Kathleen, A.1 aMcKnight, Diane, M. uhttps://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1029/2019JG00515302340nas a2200181 4500008004100000022001300041245009000054210006900144260001200213490000800225520176100233100001601994700001702010700002202027700002002049700002302069856006602092 2018 eng d a0038071700aSoil biological responses to C, N and P fertilization in a polar desert of Antarctica0 aSoil biological responses to C N and P fertilization in a polar  c07/20180 v1223 a

 

In the polar desert ecosystem of the McMurdo Dry Valleys of Antarctica, biology is constrained by available liquid water, low temperatures, as well as the availability of organic matter and nutrient elements. These soil ecosystems are climate-sensitive, where projected future warming may have profound effects on biological communities and biogeochemical cycling. Warmer temperatures will mobilize meltwater from permafrost and glaciers, may increase precipitation and may be accompanied by pulses of nutrient availability. Enhanced water and nutrient availability have the potential to greatly influence desert soil biology and ecosystem processes. The objectives of this 5-year study were to determine which nutrient elements (C, N, P) are most limiting to dry valley soil communities and whether landscape history (i.e., in situ soil type and stoichiometry) influences soil community response to nutrient additions. After 3 years of no noticeable response, soil CO2 flux was significantly higher under addition of C+ N than the other treatments, regardless of in situ soil stoichiometry, but microbial biomass and invertebrate abundance were variable and not influenced in the same manner. A stable isotope incubation suggests that fertilization increases C and N mineralization from organic matter via stimulating microbial activity, with loss of both the applied treatments as well in situ C and N. However, these responses are relatively short-lived, suggesting long-term impacts on C and N cycling would only occur if meltwater and nutrient pulses are sustained over time, a scenario that is increasingly likely for the dry valleys.

 

1 aBall, Becky1 aAdams, Byron1 aBarrett, John, E.1 aWall, Diana, H.1 aVirginia, Ross, A. uhttp://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S003807171830108102975nas a2200289 4500008004100000245013500041210006900176260001200245490000600257520199400263653002902257653002302286653002402309653003102333653002602364653002602390100002602416700002402442700001602466700002002482700002202502700002602524700002502550700002302575700001702598856007002615 2018 eng d00aStoichiometric Shifts in Soil C:N:P Promote Bacterial Taxa Dominance, Maintain Biodiversity, and Deconstruct Community Assemblages0 aStoichiometric Shifts in Soil CNP Promote Bacterial Taxa Dominan c07/20180 v93 a

Imbalances in C:N:P supply ratios may cause bacterial resource limitations and constrain biogeochemical processes, but the importance of shifts in soil stoichiometry are complicated by the nearly limitless interactions between an immensely rich species pool and a multiple chemical resource forms. To more clearly identify the impact of soil C:N:P on bacteria, we evaluated the cumulative effects of single and coupled long-term nutrient additions (i.e., C as mannitol, N as equal concentrations NH4 + and NO3 − , and P as Na3PO4) and water on communities in an Antarctic polar desert, Taylor Valley. Untreated soils possessed relatively low bacterial diversity, simplified organic C sources due to the absence of plants, limited inorganic N, and excess soil P potentially attenuating links between C:N:P. After 6 years of adding resources, an alleviation of C and N colimitation allowed one rare Micrococcaceae, an Arthrobacter species, to dominate, comprising 47% of the total community abundance and elevating soil respiration by 136% relative to untreated soils. The addition of N alone reduced C:N ratios, elevated bacterial richness and diversity, and allowed rare taxa relying on ammonium and nitrite for metabolism to become more abundant [e.g., nitrite oxidizing Nitrospira species (Nitrosomonadaceae), denitrifiers utilizing nitrite (Gemmatimonadaceae) and members of Rhodobacteraceae with a high affinity for ammonium]. Based on community co-occurrence networks, lower C:P ratios in soils following P and CP additions created more diffuse and less connected communities by disrupting 73% of species interactions and selecting for taxa potentially exploiting abundant P. Unlike amended nutrients, water additions alone elicited no lasting impact on communities. Our results suggest that as soils become nutrient rich a wide array of outcomes are possible from species dominance and the deconstruction of species interconnectedness to the maintenance of biodiversity.

10aecological stoichiometry10aLake Fryxell Basin10aMcMurdo Dry Valleys10anetwork community modeling10anutrient colimitation10aSolirubrobacteriaceae1 aAanderud, Zachary, T.1 aSaurey, Sabrina, D.1 aBall, Becky1 aWall, Diana, H.1 aBarrett, John, E.1 aMuscarella, Mario, E.1 aGriffin, Natasha, A.1 aVirginia, Ross, A.1 aAdams, Byron uhttps://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fmicb.2018.01401/full04455nas a2200121 4500008004100000245007900041210006900120260001200189520398300201100001604184700002304200856011004223 2015 eng d00aControls on diel soil CO2 flux across moisture gradients in a polar desert0 aControls on diel soil CO2 flux across moisture gradients in a po c06/20153 a

The McMurdo Dry Valleys of Antarctica are a climate-sensitive ecosystem, where future projected climate warming will increase liquid water availability to release soil biology from physical limitations and alter ecosystem processes. For example, many studies have shown that CO2 flux, an important aspect of the carbon cycle, is controlled by temperature and moisture, which often overwhelm biotic contributions in desert ecosystems. However, these studies used either single-point measurements during peak times of biological activity or diel cycles at individual locations. Here, we present diel cycles of CO2 flux from a range of soil moisture conditions and a variety of locations and habitats to determine how diel cycles of CO2 flux vary across gradients of wet-to-dry soil and whether the water source influences the diel cycle of moist soil. Soil temperature, water content and microbial biomass significantly influenced CO2 flux. Soil temperature explained most of the variation. Soil CO2 flux moderately increased with microbial biomass, demonstrating a sometimes small but significant role of biological fluxes. Our results show that over gradients of soil moisture, both geochemical and biological fluxes contribute to soil CO2 flux, and physical factors must be considered when estimating biological CO2 flux in systems with low microbial biomass.

1 aBall, Becky1 aVirginia, Ross, A. uhttp://journals.cambridge.org/action/displayAbstract?fromPage=online&aid=9776001&fileId=S095410201500025500505nas a2200133 4500008004100000245012800041210006900169260001200238300001200250490000700262100001600269700002300285856006300308 2014 eng d00aThe ecological role of moss in a polar desert: implications for aboveground- belowground and terrestrial -aquatic linkages.0 aecological role of moss in a polar desert implications for above c04/2014 a651-6640 v371 aBall, Becky1 aVirginia, Ross, A. uhttp://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00300-014-1465-200428nas a2200109 4500008004100000245009200041210006900133260001200202100001600214700002300230856006500253 2014 eng d00aMicrobial biomass and respiration responses to nitrogen fertilization in a polar desert0 aMicrobial biomass and respiration responses to nitrogen fertiliz c01/20141 aBall, Becky1 aVirginia, Ross, A. uhttp://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs00300-014-1459-002734nas a2200229 4500008004100000245012900041210006900170260001600239300001100255490000600266520197000272100002402242700002202266700001902288700001602307700002202323700002002345700001702365700002102382700002402403856007702427 2012 eng d00aAt Limits of Life: Multidisciplinary Insights Reveal Environmental Constraints on Biotic Diversity in Continental Antarctica0 aAt Limits of Life Multidisciplinary Insights Reveal Environmenta cJul-09-2013 ae445780 v73 a

Multitrophic communities that maintain the functionality of the extreme Antarctic terrestrial ecosystems, while the simplest of any natural community, are still challenging our knowledge about the limits to life on earth. In this study, we describe and interpret the linkage between the diversity of different trophic level communities to the geological morphology and soil geochemistry in the remote Transantarctic Mountains (Darwin Mountains, 80°S). We examined the distribution and diversity of biota (bacteria, cyanobacteria, lichens, algae, invertebrates) with respect to elevation, age of glacial drift sheets, and soil physicochemistry. Results showed an abiotic spatial gradient with respect to the diversity of the organisms across different trophic levels. More complex communities, in terms of trophic level diversity, were related to the weakly developed younger drifts (Hatherton and Britannia) with higher soil C/N ratio and lower total soluble salts content (thus lower conductivity). Our results indicate that an increase of ion concentration from younger to older drift regions drives a succession of complex to more simple communities, in terms of number of trophic levels and diversity within each group of organisms analysed. This study revealed that integrating diversity across multi-trophic levels of biotic communities with abiotic spatial heterogeneity and geological history is fundamental to understand environmental constraints influencing biological distribution in Antarctic soil ecosystems.

 
1 aMagalhaes, Catarina1 aStevens, Mark, I.1 aCary, Craig, S1 aBall, Becky1 aStorey, Bryan, C.1 aWall, Diana, H.1 aTürk, Roman1 aRuprecht, Ulrike1 ade Bello, Francesco uhttp://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.004457800640nas a2200193 4500008004100000245010100041210006900142260001200211300001000223490000600233100002200239700002000261700001700281700002300298700001600321700002500337700002400362856006000386 2012 eng d00aThe ecology of pulse events: insights from an extreme climatic event in a polar desert ecosystem0 aecology of pulse events insights from an extreme climatic event  c02/2012 aart170 v31 aNielsen, Uffe, N.1 aWall, Diana, H.1 aAdams, Byron1 aVirginia, Ross, A.1 aBall, Becky1 aGooseff, Michael, N.1 aMcKnight, Diane, M. uhttp://www.esajournals.org/doi/abs/10.1890/ES11-00325.100548nas a2200133 4500008004100000245010500041210006900146260001200215300001400227490001200241100001600253700002300269856012200292 2012 eng d00aMeltwater seep patches increase heterogeneity of soil geochemistry and therefore habitat suitability0 aMeltwater seep patches increase heterogeneity of soil geochemist c11/2012 a652 - 6600 v189-1901 aBall, Becky1 aVirginia, Ross, A. uhttps://mcm.lternet.edu/content/meltwater-seep-patches-increase-heterogeneity-soil-geochemistry-and-therefore-habitat00609nas a2200169 4500008004100000022001400041245010500055210006900160260001200229490002400241100001600265700002200281700002500303700002300328700002000351856006800371 2011 eng d a0800-039500aImplications of meltwater pulse events for soil biology and biogeochemical cycling in a polar desert0 aImplications of meltwater pulse events for soil biology and biog c12/20110 v30812810303525113401 aBall, Becky1 aBarrett, John, E.1 aGooseff, Michael, N.1 aVirginia, Ross, A.1 aWall, Diana, H. uhttp://www.polarresearch.net/index.php/polar/article/view/1455500622nas a2200157 4500008004100000245010300041210006900144300001400213490000700227100001600234700002300250700002200273700002400295700002000319856012500339 2009 eng d00aInteractions between physical and biotic factors influence CO_2 flux in Antarctic dry valley soils0 aInteractions between physical and biotic factors influence CO2 f a1510-15170 v411 aBall, Becky1 aVirginia, Ross, A.1 aBarrett, John, E.1 aParsons, Andrew, N.1 aWall, Diana, H. uhttps://mcm.lternet.edu/content/interactions-between-physical-and-biotic-factors-influence-co2-flux-antarctic-dry-valley