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Plant species and soil moisture shape rhizosphere microbiota in an unusually productive tundra ecosystem of North Greenland

Summary

In one of Earth’s most extreme environments—North Greenland’s Arctic tundra—scientists discovered that water availability and plant types strongly influence the invisible microbial communities living in soil around plant roots. Using advanced genetic sequencing, they found that different plants host distinct communities of bacteria, fungi, and other microorganisms, with fungi showing the strongest plant-specific associations. These findings help us understand how Arctic ecosystems function and may adapt to climate change.

Background

Arctic warming is driving uneven greening across high-latitude regions, leading to the development of unusually productive tundra ecosystems that remain poorly understood. This study investigates an exceptionally productive tundra ecosystem in North Greenland (above 82°N) at Sirius Passet, where dense vegetation thrives despite extreme conditions.

Objective

To characterize soil physicochemical properties and multi-kingdom rhizosphere microbial communities (bacteria, fungi, and micro-eukaryotes) in dominant plant species along water availability gradients. The study aims to identify primary environmental drivers shaping these communities and determine key microbial taxa associated with specific plant species.

Results

Plant species and soil moisture were key determinants of microbial community structure, with fungal communities most affected by plant species identity and bacterial communities more strongly linked to vegetation-driven soil geochemistry changes. A positive association between nematodes and mushroom-forming fungi (Agaricomycetes) was observed, suggesting a functionally interconnected soil food web.

Conclusion

Soil water availability plays a significant role in shaping plant species-specific rhizosphere microbial communities in this highly productive High Arctic tundra ecosystem. The multi-kingdom community data provides a valuable baseline for future research on ecological functioning and climate sensitivity of increasingly productive Arctic ecosystems.
  • Published in:Environmental Microbiome,
  • Study Type:Observational Field Study,
  • Source: 10.1186/s40793-025-00781-8, PMID: 41013790
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