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Belowground Communities in Lowlands Are Less Stable to Heat Extremes Across Seasons

Summary

Scientists studied how soil organisms respond to extreme heat waves at different elevations and seasons. They found that lowland soil communities are more vulnerable to heat stress than highland communities, with springtime communities recovering better than summer communities. The study reveals that timing matters: extreme heat events in spring allowed soil organisms to bounce back, but summer heat events caused lasting damage.

Background

Ecological responses to climate extremes vary across different spatial and temporal contexts. Soil communities at different elevations may experience varying thermal vulnerability depending on seasonal timing of heat events. Understanding how belowground communities respond to extreme heat across elevational gradients and seasons is critical for predicting ecosystem stability under climate change.

Objective

To investigate how soil communities at high and low elevations respond to extreme heat events across different seasons. The study examines resistance and recovery of two major soil taxa (Collembola and fungi) and their association networks in response to simulated heat extremes based on site-specific climatic history.

Results

Collembola communities at low elevations showed lowest resistance in spring and summer, with full recovery in spring but incomplete recovery in summer. Fungal communities remained largely stable to heat, though pathogenic fungi increased after summer heat events. Network analysis revealed increased connectance of negative associations between Collembola and fungi at low elevation in spring.

Conclusion

Belowground communities in lowlands are more vulnerable to extreme heat than highland communities, with season-dependent recovery patterns. The differential response of trophic levels suggests potential trophic mismatches following heat extremes. The study emphasizes the importance of considering both spatial (elevation) and temporal (seasonal) contexts when assessing ecological stability to climate extremes.
  • Published in:Ecology Letters,
  • Study Type:Experimental Study,
  • Source: 10.1111/ele.70225
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