FBIP: What are the impacts of global climate change on arid soil microbial communities?

Study Extent

South Africa (Northern Cape, KwaZulu Natal, Free State)

Sampling

Whole animals where collected

Method steps

1. Samples will be collected during a field campaign in early 2016, along an aridity gradient (Figure 1: Attachment). The aridity gradient will be sampled from a single lithostratigraphic group (Volksrust Group) to minimise variation due to geology. The landform stretches from West to East across central South Africa, and experiences rainfall, which ranges from approximately 100 mm p.a. to 1000 mm p.a. It mainly runs through the Nama Karoo and the Grassland biomes. One hundred and sixty sampling sites will be selected at regular intervals across the rainfall gradient. These will be identified with the help of national spatial datasets to ensure that the aridity gradient is evenly sampled. Best estimates of annual rainfall for each collecting site will be extracted from national climatological datasets. DNA from the soil samples will be extracted using well-established protocols (13), and subjected to amplicon sequencing analysis as specified in WP 2 (see detailed below). In order to obtain phylogenetic information, tagged amplicon pyrosequencing will be done using known markers. Soil chemistry and respiration assays will be conducted (see detailed below) in order to quantify the levels of carbon along the aridity gradient.

A broad survey of microbial (bacteria, archaea, fungi and protista) communities along a West-East aridity gradient across South Africa.

1. Fungi
   rank: kingdom
2. Archaea
   rank: kingdom
3. Bacteria
   rank: kingdom
4. Protista
   rank: kingdom

South Africa (Northern Cape, KwaZulu Natal, Free State)