Geographic Location Affects the Bacterial Community Composition and Diversity More than Species Identity for Tropical Tree Species

Abstract

Microorganisms associated with plants play a crucial role in their growth, development, and overall health. However, much remains unclear regarding the relative significance of tree species identity and spatial variation in shaping the distribution of plant bacterial communities across large tropical regions, as well as how these communities respond to environmental changes. In this study, we aimed to elucidate the characteristics of bacterial community composition in association with two rare and endangered tropical tree species, Dacrydium pectinatum and Vatica mangachapoi, across various geographical locations on Hainan Island. Our findings can be summarized as follows: (1) Significant differences existed in the bacterial composition between D. pectinatum and V. mangachapoi, as observed in the diversity of bacterial populations within the root endosphere. Plant host-related variables, such as nitrogen content, emerged as key drivers influencing leaf bacterial community compositions, underscoring the substantial impact of plant identity on bacterial composition. (2) Environmental factors associated with geographical locations, including temperature and soil pH, predominantly drove changes in both leaf and root-associated bacterial community compositions. These findings underscored the influence of geographical locations on shaping plant-associated bacterial communities. (3) Further analysis revealed that geographical locations exerted a greater influence than tree species identity on bacterial community compositions and diversity. Overall, our study underscores that environmental variables tied to geographical location primarily dictate changes in plant bacterial community composition. These insights contribute to our understanding of microbial biogeography in tropical regions and carry significant implications for the conservation of rare and endangered tropical trees.