Soil Metagenome Raw sequence reads. Soil Metagenome

Here, we evaluated the effect of a long drying period followed by a short 40 day – intensified regimented precipitation episode on the microbial community structure and function in association with hydrological behavior, catchment-scale flow paths, and weathering processes in the incipient basaltic landscape at the Landscape Evolution Observatory facility housed at Biosphere 2. 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing revealed significant differences in community composition and functional potential, pre and post-rainfall. We found consistent depth-dependent community shifts in addition to less variation in taxonomic composition after the rainfall episodes. Differential gene abundances for autotrophy, heterotrophy, and microbe-mediated weathering processes were identified in the landscapes in response to drying-wetting episodes.