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Microorganisms
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Microbial Dynamics in Desert Ecosystems
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Microbial Dynamics in Desert Ecosystems

A special issue of Microorganisms (ISSN 2076-2607). This special issue belongs to the section "Environmental Microbiology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 September 2026 | Viewed by 5299

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Xiaoying Rong

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi, China
Interests: diazotrophs and bacteria

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Desert ecosystems are an important component of terrestrial ecosystems. Microbial communities drive the material cycling and energy flow in desert systems and determine the sustainability of the net primary productivity of desert systems. Globally, desert areas often feature vast desert belts spanning large areas. Against the background of climate change, especially in arid and semi-arid regions, drought and desertification have seriously threatened the regional living environment. During the long-term process of desert adaptation, desert microorganisms adapt to environmental changes and drive the feedback effects of desert systems. Therefore, understanding the distribution and pattern of desert microbial communities is of great significance for us to deeply understand the ecological processes of desertification.

Microorganisms are surprisingly rich and diverse in desert ecosystems around the world. In these environments, microorganisms have to endure various physical and chemical stresses, including low water potential, carbon and nitrogen deficiency, and extreme temperatures. These extensive and extreme ecological adaptations are closely related to the strategies of desert microorganisms such as dormancy, energy reserves, and energy collection. As a core component of desert ecosystems, desert microorganisms participate in important ecological processes within regional ecosystems, can quickly sense changes in environmental factors, reflect changes in environmental quality and ecosystem function, and thus can be used to evaluate ecosystem stability and improve ecological functions. In this Special Issue, we further explore the important role of desert microorganisms from aspects such as the distribution characteristics, physiological and ecological adaptations, community diversity, and influencing factors of desert microorganisms in arid and semi-arid regions, with the aim of providing references for the application of desert microorganisms in ecological restoration in this region and looking forward to future research directions.

For this Special Issue, we welcome submissions of reviews, articles (original research), communications, and perspectives on topics including, but not limited to, the following:

  1. Diversity, functions, and environmental drivers of microbial communities in different habitats of deserts such as soil, plants, and seeds.
  2. Responses and adaptation strategies of desert microbial communities to drought characteristics.
  3. Primary and secondary metabolism in microbial physiology, growth, and survival of organisms within the desert environment.
  4. Desert microbiomes in a changing world, and microbially influenced global changes.

Dr. Xiaoying Rong
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Microorganisms is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • microbial diversity
  • drought
  • arid and semiarid regions
  • adaptation
  • functional regulation

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

17 pages, 1649 KB  
Article
Bacterial Community Structure and FEAST Source Tracking of Endophytes in Vernonia anthelmintica (L.) Willd. from Southern Xinjiang, China
by Jiasen Zhao, Fang Du, Jinfang Zhu, Geyu Liu, Xiaobing Zhou, Yuanming Zhang and Xiaoying Rong
Microorganisms 2026, 14(2), 414; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms14020414 - 10 Feb 2026
Viewed by 484
Abstract
Using 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing and FEAST microbial source tracking, this study characterized the bacterial communities in tissues (roots, stems, leaves, seeds) and associated soils (rhizosphere and bulk soil) of Vernonia anthelmintica, an important Uyghur medicinal plant endemic to arid southern [...] Read more.
Using 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing and FEAST microbial source tracking, this study characterized the bacterial communities in tissues (roots, stems, leaves, seeds) and associated soils (rhizosphere and bulk soil) of Vernonia anthelmintica, an important Uyghur medicinal plant endemic to arid southern Xinjiang. We found significantly higher bacterial diversity in soil than in plant tissues, with Pseudomonadota-dominated plant-associated communities and Actinobacteria co-dominating in soils. Bacterial community structures varied across plant compartments, with soil communities exhibiting greater stability and broader niche breadth. Critically, FEAST source tracking revealed that rhizosphere soil contributed 23.8%, 13.4%, 17.9%, and 10.8% of the bacterial communities in roots, stems, leaves, and seeds, respectively, identifying soil as the primary source of endophytic bacteria. These findings highlight the pivotal role of arid-region soil microbial diversity in shaping the unique endophytic microbiome of V. anthelmintica, providing a scientific basis for conserving soil microbial health to support its standardized cultivation and sustainable utilization in Uyghur medicine. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Microbial Dynamics in Desert Ecosystems)
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21 pages, 10493 KB  
Article
Sulfur Cycling and Life Strategies in Successional Biocrusts Link to Biomass Carbon in Dryland Ecosystems
by Maocheng Zhou, Qi Li, Yingchun Han, Qiong Wang, Haijian Yang, Hua Li and Chunxiang Hu
Microorganisms 2025, 13(11), 2594; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms13112594 - 14 Nov 2025
Viewed by 1090
Abstract
Examining the changing patterns and underlying mechanisms of soil biomass carbon stocks constitutes a fundamental aspect of soil biology. Despite the potential influence of the sulfur cycle and the life strategies of organisms on community biomass, these factors have rarely been studied in [...] Read more.
Examining the changing patterns and underlying mechanisms of soil biomass carbon stocks constitutes a fundamental aspect of soil biology. Despite the potential influence of the sulfur cycle and the life strategies of organisms on community biomass, these factors have rarely been studied in tandem. Biocrusts are model systems for studying soil ecosystems. In this study, metagenomic analysis of biocrusts related to different life strategies from five batches over four consecutive years demonstrated that, in free-living communities, microbial biomass carbon (MBC) synthesis, via assimilatory sulfate reduction (ASR), is primarily coupled with the 3-hydroxypropionate/4-hydroxybutyrate and Calvin–Benson–Bassham cycles. These pathways are affected by the oxidation-reduction potential (Eh), pH, electrical conductivity, and nutrient levels. The decomposition of organic carbon (OC) via dissimilatory sulfate reduction (DSR) was accompanied by the production of dimethyl sulfide (DMS), which was influenced by the C/S ratio and moisture, whereas the synthesis of MBC by symbiotic communities was found to be affected by Eh and pH, and decomposition was affected by the C/S ratio. The MBC stock was influenced by all strategies, with resource strategies having the greatest impacts during the growing season, and the contribution of chemotrophic energy was most significant in free-living communities. In conclusion, the MBC in biocrusts is associated with both ASR and DSR and is facilitated by the A-, S-, and P-strategies under the regulation of the stoichiometric C/S ratio. The exploration of microbial life strategies and sulfur cycling in biocrusts within arid ecosystems in this study offers a new perspective on the patterns of change in soil biomass carbon stocks. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Microbial Dynamics in Desert Ecosystems)
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17 pages, 3594 KB  
Article
Microbial Communities and Environmental Factors Interact to Regulate Soil Respiration Under Nitrogen Addition Conditions in Alpine Meadows in Northwest China
by Xiaojuan Cao, Jinlong Wang, Bota Bahethan, Yudong Chen, Junjie Liu and Guanghui Lü
Microorganisms 2025, 13(9), 2098; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms13092098 - 9 Sep 2025
Viewed by 1323
Abstract
Alpine meadow ecosystems are highly sensitive to global change, yet the response mechanisms of soil respiration (Rs) to nitrogen deposition remain unclear. This research employed a gradient nitrogen addition experiment (0, 5, 10, 15, 20 g·m−2·a−1) in an alpine [...] Read more.
Alpine meadow ecosystems are highly sensitive to global change, yet the response mechanisms of soil respiration (Rs) to nitrogen deposition remain unclear. This research employed a gradient nitrogen addition experiment (0, 5, 10, 15, 20 g·m−2·a−1) in an alpine meadow ecosystem in Northwest China to determine the major factors regulating soil respiration responses. High nitrogen inputs (N15 and N20) significantly elevated Rs by 31.96% and 29.21% relative to the control (p < 0.05). Nitrogen addition significantly increased soil ammonium nitrogen (NH4+-N) content, as well as the activities of cellobiohydrolase (CBH) and peroxidase (POD). Microbial community structure shifted with nitrogen addition, showing increased relative abundance of Actinobacteriota (14–25%) and Basidiomycota (13–26%). Functional prediction analysis revealed that high nitrogen treatments enhanced bacterial carbon metabolism functions such as fermentation and ureolysis, while enriching fungal functional guilds like Wood Saprotroph and Arbuscular Mycorrhizal fungi. Partial Least Squares Path Modeling (PLS-PM) indicated that nitrogen addition indirectly drives changes in Rs by regulating physicochemical factors (e.g., NH4+-N), which subsequently influence microbial community composition, functional potential, and key enzyme activities. These findings elucidate the factors influencing soil respiration under varying nitrogen addition levels, providing a theoretical basis for assessing soil carbon cycling in alpine meadows under global change scenarios. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Microbial Dynamics in Desert Ecosystems)
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19 pages, 1767 KB  
Article
The Abundance and Distribution of the acdS Gene in Microbial Communities from the Rhizosphere of Copiapoa solaris, a Native Cactus in the Arid Coastal Region of Antofagasta, Chile
by Mayra Cayo, Francisco Solís-Cornejo, Andrés Santos, Pedro Zamorano and Bernardita Valenzuela
Microorganisms 2025, 13(7), 1547; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms13071547 - 1 Jul 2025
Viewed by 1626
Abstract
Copiapoa solaris is an endemic cactus species from the Antofagasta region, Chile, thriving in arid coastal ecosystems known as “fog oases,” where the rising marine moisture is the primary water source. This study investigates the role of microbial communities associated with the rhizosphere [...] Read more.
Copiapoa solaris is an endemic cactus species from the Antofagasta region, Chile, thriving in arid coastal ecosystems known as “fog oases,” where the rising marine moisture is the primary water source. This study investigates the role of microbial communities associated with the rhizosphere of C. solaris in adapting to extreme environmental conditions, particularly focusing on the acdS gene, which encodes ACC deaminase—an enzyme that reduces ethylene production under stress. This research aims to elucidate the gene’s contribution to the adaptation of C. solaris in these challenging environments. Samples were collected from three sites (El Cobre, Quebrada Botija, and Quebrada Izcuña) that differ in relative humidity, temperature, and topography. Environmental DNA was extracted, phylogenetic diversity was analyzed, and metagenomic annotation of the acdS gene was conducted. The acdS gene was detected in all samples, with the highest relative abundance at Quebrada Izcuña (0.05%), characterized by low relative humidity (<70%) and severe water stress. Phylogenetic analysis revealed conserved sequences across sites, while taxonomic and alpha diversity were similar among them. However, beta diversity indicated that Quebrada Izcuña was the least homogeneous, hosting distinct taxa potentially associated with stress mitigation. The acdS gene was detected on plasmids at El Cobre and Quebrada Izcuña, suggesting its potential mobility within the metagenome. The results of this study highlight the intricate relationships between microbial communities and the resilient cactus species C. solaris in extreme environments. The conservation and abundance of the acdS gene, particularly in low-humidity conditions, suggest its vital role in facilitating stress tolerance through microbial interactions. Understanding these dynamics is crucial for developing strategies to enhance plant resilience in arid ecosystems, with potential applications in sustainable agriculture and ecosystem management under changing climatic conditions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Microbial Dynamics in Desert Ecosystems)
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