Microbial ecology of hot desert edaphic systems.
A significant proportion of the Earth's surface is desert or in the process of desertification. The extreme environmental conditions that characterize these areas result in a surface that is essentially barren, with a limited range of higher plants and animals. Microbial communities are probably the dominant drivers of these systems, mediating key ecosystem processes. In this review, we examine the microbial communities of hot desert terrestrial biotopes (including soils, cryptic and refuge niches and plant-root-associated microbes) and the processes that govern their assembly. We also assess the possible effects of global climate change on hot desert microbial communities and the resulting feedback mechanisms. We conclude by discussing current gaps in our understanding of the microbiology of hot deserts and suggest fruitful avenues for future research.
Centre for Microbial Ecology and Genomics, Department of Genetics, Natural Sciences 2, University of Pretoria, Hatfield, Pretoria 0028, South Africa.
Thulani P
TP
Makhalanyane
Centre for Microbial Ecology and Genomics, Department of Genetics, Natural Sciences 2, University of Pretoria, Hatfield, Pretoria 0028, South Africa.
Angel
A
Valverde
Centre for Microbial Ecology and Genomics, Department of Genetics, Natural Sciences 2, University of Pretoria, Hatfield, Pretoria 0028, South Africa.
Eoin
E
Gunnigle
Centre for Microbial Ecology and Genomics, Department of Genetics, Natural Sciences 2, University of Pretoria, Hatfield, Pretoria 0028, South Africa.
Aline
A
Frossard
Centre for Microbial Ecology and Genomics, Department of Genetics, Natural Sciences 2, University of Pretoria, Hatfield, Pretoria 0028, South Africa.
Jean-Baptiste
JB
Ramond
Centre for Microbial Ecology and Genomics, Department of Genetics, Natural Sciences 2, University of Pretoria, Hatfield, Pretoria 0028, South Africa don.cowan@up.ac.za.
Don A
DA
Cowan
D044822:Biodiversity; D057231:Climate Change; D003889:Desert Climate; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000382:microbiology; D012988:Soil Microbiology
biological soil crusts; community dynamics; deserts; global change; hypoliths; soil