OTU table for global phoD

The global distribution of functional microbial communities remains largely unexplored. Understanding their distribution and environmental drivers is crucial for biodiversity conservation and ecosystem management. We conducted a meta-analysis of 51 datasets to investigate the distribution patterns and environmental drivers of phoD-harbouring microbial communities, key players in organic phosphorus (P) mineralisation. Our results revealed a group of ubiquitous taxa accounting for a considerable proportion of abundances, mirroring the diversity of the whole phoD-harbouring communities. These taxa are predominantly composed of Proteobacteria, Cyanobacteria, and Actinobacteria across diverse ecosystems, with climatic factors (temperature and aridity) emerging as primary shaping factors for their abundance patterns, alongside habitat pH. Abundances of dominant phoD-harbouring phylotypes were higher in habitats with lower temperatures and less water availability. These dominant phylotypes can be grouped into well-defined ecological clusters mirroring their preferences for climates and habitat pH. Comparative genomics analyses indicated that microbial P-cycling gene frequency was particularly higher in low pH habitats. These findings enhance our understanding of the biogeography of functional microbial communities and have implications for predicting and mitigating the impacts of environmental changes on ecosystem functioning.