Understanding the mechanisms that underlie species assembly is a central concern in community ecology. Abiotic and biotic filters are probabilistic \uffe2\uff80\uff98sieves\uffe2\uff80\uff99 that allow species with certain functional traits to become a part of the community, or not. We manipulated natural plant assemblies in order to identify variations in the timings of biotic and abiotic filters that determine community trait assemblies.
We extracted soil portions when the investigated annual plant community was in its seed phase (\uffe2\uff80\uff98community monolith\uffe2\uff80\uff99), thereby maintaining the structure and similar soil characteristics to the field conditions. Community monoliths were subjected to experimental manipulation in terms of the rainfall timing and amount, and perturbations of the biological soil crust (BSC; intact vs. perturbed). We surveyed the experimental community assembly over time based on the functional diversity by considering important functional traits in different life stages.
We found that autumn droughts acted as abiotic filters by favouring the germination and establishment of species with greater investment in the root biomass. Under severe droughts (66% water reduction), the experimental assemblies were dominated by species with functional traits adapted to water shortage conditions: high leaf dry matter content, low specific leaf area, small individual size, low reproductive ratio and high root:shoot ratio. We identified two roles of BSCs in annual plant species assemblies: (a) as a biotic filter that limited the establishment of species based on seed size, and (b) as a buffer against water stress conditions by reducing soil evapotranspiration.
Synthesis. We demonstrated the importance of the timing and amount of rainfall for shaping annual plant communities, and identified germination filters as the main process that determined community assemblies. Our results suggest that the phenotypic integration of functional traits facilitates resistance to drought during the life cycle. The BSC\uffe2\uff80\uff93annual plant relationship shifted from negative, by acting as a germination filter, to positive, by acting as a buffer in later stages. Climatic fluctuations and fine scale biotic determinants of spatial heterogeneity emerged as sources of changes in the community assembly in time and space to possibly promote species coexistence and trait differences among the communities studied.
", "keywords": ["Annual plants", "0106 biological sciences", "2. Zero hunger", "Drought", "Biotic and abiotic filters", "Community assembly", "annual plant", " biological soil crust", " biotic and abiotic filters", " coexistence", " community assembly", " drought", " functional diversity", " Mediterranean grassland", "Biological soil crusts", "drought", "Functional diversity", "15. Life on land", "functional diversity", "Mediterranean grassland", "01 natural sciences", "6. Clean water", "biological soil crust", "gypsum soil", "annual plant", "13. Climate action", "community assembly", "precipitation seasonality", "Coexistence"]}, "links": [{"href": "https://besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/1365-2745.13210"}, {"href": "https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2745.13210"}, {"rel": "related", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/Journal%20of%20Ecology", "name": "related record", "description": "related record", "type": "application/json"}, {"rel": "self", "type": "application/geo+json", "title": "10.1111/1365-2745.13210", "name": "item", "description": "10.1111/1365-2745.13210", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/10.1111/1365-2745.13210"}, {"rel": "collection", "type": "application/json", "title": "Collection", "name": "collection", "description": "Collection", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main"}], "time": {"date": "2019-06-19T00:00:00Z"}}, {"id": "10.1111/1462-2920.13954", "type": "Feature", "geometry": null, "properties": {"updated": "2026-04-03T16:19:48Z", "type": "Journal Article", "created": "2022-10-18", "title": "Application of stable-isotope labelling techniques for the detection of active diazotrophs", "description": "SummaryInvestigating active participants in the fixation of dinitrogen gas is vital as N is often a limiting factor for primary production. Biological nitrogen fixation is performed by a diverse guild of bacteria and archaea (diazotrophs), which can be free\uffe2\uff80\uff90living or symbionts. Free\uffe2\uff80\uff90living diazotrophs are widely distributed in the environment, yet our knowledge about their identity and ecophysiology is still limited. A major challenge in investigating this guild is inferring activity from genetic data as this process is highly regulated. To address this challenge, we evaluated and improved several 15N\uffe2\uff80\uff90based methods for detecting N2 fixation activity (with a focus on soil samples) and studying active diazotrophs. We compared the acetylene reduction assay and the 15N2 tracer method and demonstrated that the latter is more sensitive in samples with low activity. Additionally, tracing 15N into microbial RNA provides much higher sensitivity compared to bulk soil analysis. Active soil diazotrophs were identified with a 15N\uffe2\uff80\uff90RNA\uffe2\uff80\uff90SIP approach optimized for environmental samples and benchmarked to 15N\uffe2\uff80\uff90DNA\uffe2\uff80\uff90SIP. Lastly, we investigated the feasibility of using SIP\uffe2\uff80\uff90Raman microspectroscopy for detecting 15N\uffe2\uff80\uff90labelled cells. Taken together, these tools allow identifying and investigating active free\uffe2\uff80\uff90living diazotrophs in a highly sensitive manner in diverse environments, from bulk to the single\uffe2\uff80\uff90cell level.
", "keywords": ["Spectrum Analysis", " Raman", "BIOLOGICAL SOIL CRUSTS", "106005 Bioinformatik", "106023 Molekularbiologie", "Nitrogen Fixation", "REVEALS", "FLUORESCENCE", "Research Articles", "Soil Microbiology", "106022 Mikrobiologie", "SPECTROSCOPY", "Bacteria", "Nitrogen Isotopes", "106003 Biodiversity research", "106023 Molecular biology", "GENETIC-REGULATION", "Archaea", "6. Clean water", "SURFACE-ENHANCED RAMAN", "COMMUNITY", "106003 Biodiversit\u00e4tsforschung", "13. Climate action", "Isotope Labeling", "106022 Microbiology", "NITROGEN-FIXATION", "106005 Bioinformatics", "RIBOSOMAL-RNA", "N-2 FIXATION"]}, "links": [{"href": "https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/1462-2920.13954"}, {"href": "https://doi.org/10.1111/1462-2920.13954"}, {"rel": "related", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/Environmental%20Microbiology", "name": "related record", "description": "related record", "type": "application/json"}, {"rel": "self", "type": "application/geo+json", "title": "10.1111/1462-2920.13954", "name": "item", "description": "10.1111/1462-2920.13954", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/10.1111/1462-2920.13954"}, {"rel": "collection", "type": "application/json", "title": "Collection", "name": "collection", "description": "Collection", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main"}], "time": {"date": "2017-12-15T00:00:00Z"}}, {"id": "10.1111/1462-2920.16213", "type": "Feature", "geometry": null, "properties": {"updated": "2026-04-03T16:19:48Z", "type": "Journal Article", "created": "2022-10-18", "title": "Application of stable\u2010isotope labelling techniques for the detection of active diazotrophs", "description": "SummaryInvestigating active participants in the fixation of dinitrogen gas is vital as N is often a limiting factor for primary production. Biological nitrogen fixation is performed by a diverse guild of bacteria and archaea (diazotrophs), which can be free\uffe2\uff80\uff90living or symbionts. Free\uffe2\uff80\uff90living diazotrophs are widely distributed in the environment, yet our knowledge about their identity and ecophysiology is still limited. A major challenge in investigating this guild is inferring activity from genetic data as this process is highly regulated. To address this challenge, we evaluated and improved several 15N\uffe2\uff80\uff90based methods for detecting N2 fixation activity (with a focus on soil samples) and studying active diazotrophs. We compared the acetylene reduction assay and the 15N2 tracer method and demonstrated that the latter is more sensitive in samples with low activity. Additionally, tracing 15N into microbial RNA provides much higher sensitivity compared to bulk soil analysis. Active soil diazotrophs were identified with a 15N\uffe2\uff80\uff90RNA\uffe2\uff80\uff90SIP approach optimized for environmental samples and benchmarked to 15N\uffe2\uff80\uff90DNA\uffe2\uff80\uff90SIP. Lastly, we investigated the feasibility of using SIP\uffe2\uff80\uff90Raman microspectroscopy for detecting 15N\uffe2\uff80\uff90labelled cells. Taken together, these tools allow identifying and investigating active free\uffe2\uff80\uff90living diazotrophs in a highly sensitive manner in diverse environments, from bulk to the single\uffe2\uff80\uff90cell level.
Understanding the mechanisms that underlie species assembly is a central concern in community ecology. Abiotic and biotic filters are probabilistic \uffe2\uff80\uff98sieves\uffe2\uff80\uff99 that allow species with certain functional traits to become a part of the community, or not. We manipulated natural plant assemblies in order to identify variations in the timings of biotic and abiotic filters that determine community trait assemblies.
We extracted soil portions when the investigated annual plant community was in its seed phase (\uffe2\uff80\uff98community monolith\uffe2\uff80\uff99), thereby maintaining the structure and similar soil characteristics to the field conditions. Community monoliths were subjected to experimental manipulation in terms of the rainfall timing and amount, and perturbations of the biological soil crust (BSC; intact vs. perturbed). We surveyed the experimental community assembly over time based on the functional diversity by considering important functional traits in different life stages.
We found that autumn droughts acted as abiotic filters by favouring the germination and establishment of species with greater investment in the root biomass. Under severe droughts (66% water reduction), the experimental assemblies were dominated by species with functional traits adapted to water shortage conditions: high leaf dry matter content, low specific leaf area, small individual size, low reproductive ratio and high root:shoot ratio. We identified two roles of BSCs in annual plant species assemblies: (a) as a biotic filter that limited the establishment of species based on seed size, and (b) as a buffer against water stress conditions by reducing soil evapotranspiration.
Synthesis. We demonstrated the importance of the timing and amount of rainfall for shaping annual plant communities, and identified germination filters as the main process that determined community assemblies. Our results suggest that the phenotypic integration of functional traits facilitates resistance to drought during the life cycle. The BSC\uffe2\uff80\uff93annual plant relationship shifted from negative, by acting as a germination filter, to positive, by acting as a buffer in later stages. Climatic fluctuations and fine scale biotic determinants of spatial heterogeneity emerged as sources of changes in the community assembly in time and space to possibly promote species coexistence and trait differences among the communities studied.
Investigating active participants in the fixation of dinitrogen gas is vital as N is often a limiting factor for primary production. Biological nitrogen fixation is performed by a diverse guild of bacteria and archaea (diazotrophs), which can be free\uffe2\uff80\uff90living or symbionts. Free\uffe2\uff80\uff90living diazotrophs are widely distributed in the environment, yet our knowledge about their identity and ecophysiology is still limited. A major challenge in investigating this guild is inferring activity from genetic data as this process is highly regulated. To address this challenge, we evaluated and improved several 15N\uffe2\uff80\uff90based methods for detecting N2 fixation activity (with a focus on soil samples) and studying active diazotrophs. We compared the acetylene reduction assay and the 15N2 tracer method and demonstrated that the latter is more sensitive in samples with low activity. Additionally, tracing 15N into microbial RNA provides much higher sensitivity compared to bulk soil analysis. Active soil diazotrophs were identified with a 15N\uffe2\uff80\uff90RNA\uffe2\uff80\uff90SIP approach optimized for environmental samples and benchmarked to 15N\uffe2\uff80\uff90DNA\uffe2\uff80\uff90SIP. Lastly, we investigated the feasibility of using SIP\uffe2\uff80\uff90Raman microspectroscopy for detecting 15N\uffe2\uff80\uff90labelled cells. Taken together, these tools allow identifying and investigating active free\uffe2\uff80\uff90living diazotrophs in a highly sensitive manner in diverse environments, from bulk to the single\uffe2\uff80\uff90cell level.Understanding the mechanisms that underlie species assembly is a central concern in community ecology. Abiotic and biotic filters are probabilistic \uffe2\uff80\uff98sieves\uffe2\uff80\uff99 that allow species with certain functional traits to become a part of the community, or not. We manipulated natural plant assemblies in order to identify variations in the timings of biotic and abiotic filters that determine community trait assemblies.
We extracted soil portions when the investigated annual plant community was in its seed phase (\uffe2\uff80\uff98community monolith\uffe2\uff80\uff99), thereby maintaining the structure and similar soil characteristics to the field conditions. Community monoliths were subjected to experimental manipulation in terms of the rainfall timing and amount, and perturbations of the biological soil crust (BSC; intact vs. perturbed). We surveyed the experimental community assembly over time based on the functional diversity by considering important functional traits in different life stages.
We found that autumn droughts acted as abiotic filters by favouring the germination and establishment of species with greater investment in the root biomass. Under severe droughts (66% water reduction), the experimental assemblies were dominated by species with functional traits adapted to water shortage conditions: high leaf dry matter content, low specific leaf area, small individual size, low reproductive ratio and high root:shoot ratio. We identified two roles of BSCs in annual plant species assemblies: (a) as a biotic filter that limited the establishment of species based on seed size, and (b) as a buffer against water stress conditions by reducing soil evapotranspiration.
Synthesis. We demonstrated the importance of the timing and amount of rainfall for shaping annual plant communities, and identified germination filters as the main process that determined community assemblies. Our results suggest that the phenotypic integration of functional traits facilitates resistance to drought during the life cycle. The BSC\uffe2\uff80\uff93annual plant relationship shifted from negative, by acting as a germination filter, to positive, by acting as a buffer in later stages. Climatic fluctuations and fine scale biotic determinants of spatial heterogeneity emerged as sources of changes in the community assembly in time and space to possibly promote species coexistence and trait differences among the communities studied.
Investigating active participants in the fixation of dinitrogen gas is vital as N is often a limiting factor for primary production. Biological nitrogen fixation is performed by a diverse guild of bacteria and archaea (diazotrophs), which can be free\uffe2\uff80\uff90living or symbionts. Free\uffe2\uff80\uff90living diazotrophs are widely distributed in the environment, yet our knowledge about their identity and ecophysiology is still limited. A major challenge in investigating this guild is inferring activity from genetic data as this process is highly regulated. To address this challenge, we evaluated and improved several 15 N\uffe2\uff80\uff90based methods for detecting N 2 fixation activity (with a focus on soil samples) and studying active diazotrophs. We compared the acetylene reduction assay and the 15 N 2 tracer method and demonstrated that the latter is more sensitive in samples with low activity. Additionally, tracing 15 N into microbial RNA provides much higher sensitivity compared to bulk soil analysis. Active soil diazotrophs were identified with a 15 N\uffe2\uff80\uff90RNA\uffe2\uff80\uff90SIP approach optimized for environmental samples and benchmarked to 15 N\uffe2\uff80\uff90DNA\uffe2\uff80\uff90SIP. Lastly, we investigated the feasibility of using SIP\uffe2\uff80\uff90Raman microspectroscopy for detecting 15 N\uffe2\uff80\uff90labelled cells. Taken together, these tools allow identifying and investigating active free\uffe2\uff80\uff90living diazotrophs in a highly sensitive manner in diverse environments, from bulk to the single\uffe2\uff80\uff90cell level.