Soil aggregates as massively concurrent evolutionary incubators

Rillig, Matthias C.; Muller, Ludo A. H.; Lehmann, Anika

doi:10.1038/ismej.2017.56

Cited by 254 publications

(138 citation statements)

References 20 publications

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“…Microbial communities inhabit soil aggregates and exhibit dynamics in composition and activity (e.g., Ebrahimi & Or, ). Recently, based on aggregates’ isolation feature Rillig et al () proposed that aggregates are “incubators” of microbial evolution that allow processes including genetic drift, natural selection, and mutation to occur and that likely produce an overall effect of an increase in microbial diversity. This microbial evolution dimension further adds complexity to understanding aggregate reactors.…”

Section: The Aggregate As a “Biogeochemical Reactor” Of Ghgmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…A variety of anaerobic metabolic pathways can occur in aggregates (Ebrahimi & Or, 2015;Keiluweit et al, 2016), including processes responsible for CH 4 and N 2 O production such as denitrification and methanogenesis (e.g., Sexstone et al, 1988;von Fischer & Hedin, 2007;Keiluweit et al, 2016;summarized Microbial communities inhabit soil aggregates and exhibit dynamics in composition and activity (e.g., Ebrahimi & Or, 2016). Recently, based on aggregates' isolation feature Rillig et al (2017) proposed that aggregates are "incubators" of microbial evolution that allow processes including genetic drift, natural selection, and mutation to occur and that likely produce an overall effect of an increase in microbial diversity. This microbial evolution dimension further adds complexity to understanding aggregate reactors.…”

Section: The Aggregate As a " Bioge Ochemical Reactor" Of Ghgmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The soil system shows extremely high heterogeneity, and microbial activities are not spatially homogeneous in the soil matrix (Young & Crawford, 2004). From the perspective of structure, soil aggregates and pore spaces create fine-scale spatial heterogeneity (e.g., Elliott & Coleman, 1988;Horn, Taubner, Wuttke, & Baumgartl, 1994;Rillig, Muller, & Lehmann, 2017). Primary soil mineral particles (clay, silt, and sand) chemically interact with organic matter (historically classified as "primary organo-mineral complexes"), forming the basic units of soil aggregates.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Soil aggregates as biogeochemical reactors and implications for soil–atmosphere exchange of greenhouse gases—A concept

Wang

Brewer

Shugart

et al. 2018

Global Change Biology

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Soil–atmosphere exchange significantly influences the global atmospheric abundances of carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), and nitrous oxide (N2O). These greenhouse gases (GHGs) have been extensively studied at the soil profile level and extrapolated to coarser scales (regional and global). However, finer scale studies of soil aggregation have not received much attention, even though elucidating the GHG activities at the full spectrum of scales rather than just coarse levels is essential for reducing the large uncertainties in the current atmospheric budgets of these gases. Through synthesizing relevant studies, we propose that aggregates, as relatively separate micro‐environments embedded in a complex soil matrix, can be viewed as biogeochemical reactors of GHGs. Aggregate reactivity is determined by both aggregate size (which determines the reactor size) and the bulk soil environment including both biotic and abiotic factors (which further influence the reaction conditions). With a systematic, dynamic view of the soil system, implications of aggregate reactors for soil–atmosphere GHG exchange are determined by both an individual reactor's reactivity and dynamics in aggregate size distributions. Emerging evidence supports the contention that aggregate reactors significantly influence soil–atmosphere GHG exchange and may have global implications for carbon and nitrogen cycling. In the context of increasingly frequent and severe disturbances, we advocate more analyses of GHG activities at the aggregate scale. To complement data on aggregate reactors, we suggest developing bottom‐up aggregate‐based models (ABMs) that apply a trait‐based approach and incorporate soil system heterogeneity.

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Section: The Aggregate As a “Biogeochemical Reactor” Of Ghgmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: The Aggregate As a " Bioge Ochemical Reactor" Of Ghgmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Soil aggregates as biogeochemical reactors and implications for soil–atmosphere exchange of greenhouse gases—A concept

Wang

Brewer

Shugart

et al. 2018

Global Change Biology

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“…Rillig et al . () point out the role of soil aggregates in increasing habitat diversity in soils, and hence facilitating evolution.…”

Section: Timing Of Increased Mudstone In the Stratigraphic Record Andmentioning

confidence: 99%

How long have photosynthetic organisms been aggregating soils?

Raven

2018

New Phytologist

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“…in deserts (Degens, 1997). Rillig et al (2017) point out the role of soil aggregates in increasing habitat diversity in soils, and hence facilitating evolution. Six et al (2004) reviewed the history of the study of the formation of soil aggregates, and showed that the main factors, i.e.…”

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confidence: 99%

The origin and evolution of mycorrhizal symbioses: from palaeomycology to phylogenomics

et al. 2018

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Contents Summary 1012 I. Introduction 1013 II. The mycorrhizal symbiosis at the dawn and rise of the land flora 1014 III. From early land plants to early trees: the origin of roots and true mycorrhizas 1016 IV. The diversification of the AM symbiosis 1019 V. The ECM symbiosis 1021 VI. The recently evolved ericoid and orchid mycorrhizas 1023 VII. Limits of paleontological vs genetic approaches and perspectives 1023 Acknowledgements 1025 References 1025 SUMMARY: The ability of fungi to form mycorrhizas with plants is one of the most remarkable and enduring adaptations to life on land. The occurrence of mycorrhizas is now well established in c. 85% of extant plants, yet the geological record of these associations is sparse. Fossils preserved under exceptional conditions provide tantalizing glimpses into the evolutionary history of mycorrhizas, showing the extent of their occurrence and aspects of their evolution in extinct plants. The fossil record has important roles to play in establishing a chronology of when key fungal associations evolved and in understanding their importance in ecosystems through time. Together with calibrated phylogenetic trees, these approaches extend our understanding of when and how groups evolved in the context of major environmental change on a global scale. Phylogenomics furthers this understanding into the evolution of different types of mycorrhizal associations, and genomic studies of both plants and fungi are shedding light on how the complex set of symbiotic traits evolved. Here we present a review of the main phases of the evolution of mycorrhizal interactions from palaeontological, phylogenetic and genomic perspectives, with the aim of highlighting the potential of fossil material and a geological perspective in a cross-disciplinary approach.

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Soil aggregates as massively concurrent evolutionary incubators

Cited by 254 publications

References 20 publications

Soil aggregates as biogeochemical reactors and implications for soil–atmosphere exchange of greenhouse gases—A concept

Soil aggregates as biogeochemical reactors and implications for soil–atmosphere exchange of greenhouse gases—A concept

How long have photosynthetic organisms been aggregating soils?

The origin and evolution of mycorrhizal symbioses: from palaeomycology to phylogenomics

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