The contrasting effects of fluctuating temperature on bacterial diversity and performances in temperate and subtropical soils

We conducted an experiment to test whether environmental fluctuation (temperature variation) contributes to species coexistence in soil microbial communities. We collected soil microbiomes from two sites (one tropical, and one subtropical) and subjected these communities to either constant high, low or fluctuating temperatures for twelve weeks. The results suggested that temperature variation had contrasting effects on bacterial diversity and performances in temperate and subtropical soils.