Year: 2024
Type: article
Abstract: Viruses play a crucial role in regulating microbial communities and ecosystem functioning. However, the biogeographic patterns of viruses and their responses to climate factors remain underexplored. In this study, we performed viral size fraction metagenomes on 108 samples collected along a 2600 km transect across Australia, encompassing distinct climate conditions. A total of 14,531 viral operational taxonomic units were identified. Climate factors had a greater influence than edaphic and biotic factors on driving the alpha diversity of viral communities. The strongest relationship was observed between mean annual temperature and the diversity of viral communities. Moreover, climate factors, particularly aridity index, were the primary drivers of viral community structure. Overall, these findings underscore the pivotal role of climate factors in shaping viral communities and have implications for understanding how climate change influences soil viral ecology.
DOI: 10.1002/sae2.70008
Authors: Li Bi, Zi‐Yang He, Bao Anh Thi Nguyen, Lok Hang Chan, Shuo Na, Ji‐Zheng He, Hang‐Wei Hu
Institution: The University of Melbourne
Language: English
Subfield: Ecology
Field: Environmental Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
SDGs: Life on land, Climate action
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $2,400
OpenAlex ID: W4403155655