Responses of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal communities to an experimental gradient of precipitation in the desert steppe of Northwest China

Climate change exerts profound effects on desert grassland ecosystems, influencing vital components such as plant and soil communities. Among these, Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) pivotal plant root symbionts, exhibit marked sensitivity to environmental fluctuations. Our study delves into how variations in precipitation impact AMF community diversity and composition within these ecosystems, aiming to identify the predominant influencing factors. Over three years, we simulated five precipitation regimes to investigate the responses of AMF communities: extreme drought (50% reduction), moderate drought (25% reduction), control (ambient precipitation), moderate wet (25% increase), and wet (50% increase). Utilizing Illumina high-throughput sequencing, we assessed the effects of precipitation changes on AMF richness and composition. Our findings reveal that AMF richness and composition are significantly responsive to precipitation alterations, with soil moisture and pH, along with plant biomass and plant cover, emerging as key drivers. Notably, soil properties exert a more pronounced influence on AMF community dynamics than plant community. These insights contribute to a nuanced understanding of AMF community responses to precipitation variability, offering implications for predicting and managing the impacts of climate change on Ningxia's desert steppe ecosystems.