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Environmental drivers of the distribution of nitrogen functional genes at a watershed scale

Tsiknia Myrto, Paranychianakis Nikolaos, Varouchakis Emmanouil, Nikolaidis Nikolaos

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Summary

To date only few studies have dealt with the biogeography of microbial communities at large spatial scales, despite theimportance of such information to understand and simulate ecosystem functioning. Herein, we describe the biogeographicpatterns of microorganisms involved in nitrogen (N)-cycling (diazotrophs, ammonia oxidizers, denitrifiers) as well as theenvironmental factors shaping these patterns across the Koiliaris Critical Zone Observatory, a typical Mediterraneanwatershed. Our findings revealed that a proportion of variance ranging from 40 to 80% of functional genes abundance couldbe explained by the environmental variables monitored, with pH, soil texture, total organic carbon and potentialnitrification rate being identified as the most important drivers. The spatial autocorrelation of N-functional genes rangedfrom 0.2 to 6.2 km and prediction maps, generated by cokriging, revealed distinct patterns of functional genes. Theinclusion of functional genes in statistical modeling substantially improved the proportion of variance explained by themodels, a result possibly due to the strong relationships that were identified among microbial groups. Significantrelationships were set between functional groups, which were further mediated by land use (natural versus agriculturallands). These relationships, in combination with the environmental variables, allow us to provide insights regarding theecological preferences of N-functional groups and among them the recently identified clade II of nitrous oxide reducers.

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