Authors: Veregut-Leon Ioana, Surelac Marius; Racoviceanu Tudor; 

eLTER TA Sites: Rhine-Main-Observatory, Doñana, AgrHyS

Start Date: August 1, 2024

Duration: Ongoing

In August 2024, we embarked on a journey to uncover the role that soil microbiota plays in maintaining ecosystem health, as part of the ongoing MALT (Microbiota and Landscape Transitions) project. With a focus on microbial diversity and antimicrobial resistance (AMR), we aim to understand how different ecosystems and land management practices shape the microbial communities in soil and their influence on ecosystem services, such as nutrient cycling, climate regulation, and pest control.

The MALT project is designed to assess how human activities, such as agriculture and conservation efforts, impact these soil microbial communities and their potential for developing antimicrobial resistance. By employing cutting-edge methods, we hope to shed light on how land management practices can either sustain or harm the delicate balance of microbial diversity that is vital for ecosystem functioning.

Our team, composed of Ioana Veregut-Leon (natural scientist), Marius Surelac (bioinformatician), and Tudor Racoviceanu (natural scientist), is excited to tackle this challenge across five diverse sites. These sites are located in agricultural fields, natural forests, and freshwater ecosystems, each with its own unique environmental conditions. In each location, we are investigating how plant species composition and management practices influence the microbial communities in soil, and how these communities, in turn, affect the broader ecosystem.

Fieldwork and Methodology

The fieldwork phase of the project is underway, with the team spending several days at each of the selected sites. At each site, we conduct interviews with site managers to better understand local conservation practices and ecosystem services. We also collect soil and plant data, which will help us correlate soil characteristics, such as organic carbon content, moisture levels, and nutrient concentration, with microbial diversity.

In addition to collecting soil samples, we use advanced sequencing techniques, including shotgun metagenomics, to analyze the full genomic content of microbial communities. This allows us to examine the taxonomic composition of these communities and assess their antimicrobial resistance profiles.

Unexpected Lessons and Surprises

As we progress with the MALT project, we have already encountered several surprises and memorable moments in the field. One of the most unexpected lessons we've learned is how different ecosystems, ranging from pristine forests to disturbed agricultural areas, support diverse microbial communities with distinct resistance profiles. It’s been a reminder of how sensitive microbial ecosystems can be to changes in environmental conditions and human activity.

Gratitude and Looking Ahead

Our work on the MALT project is far from over, and we are grateful for the opportunity to collaborate with researchers at sites like Rhine-Main-Observatory, Doñana, and AgrHyS. Meeting and working with fellow researchers, sharing insights, and learning from their expertise has been a rewarding part of this journey.

As we move forward, we look forward to finalize data analysis, as it holds the potential to inform better practices for land management and ecosystem conservation. We’re also excited to see how the One Health approach—linking environmental, human, and animal health—will shape the findings and their broader implications.

Stay tuned for more updates as we continue exploring the role of soil microbiota in maintaining the health of ecosystems!

About the Authors:

• Veregut-Leon Ioana-Teodora is a natural scientist specializing in ecology and ecosystem services. She is particularly interested in microbial diversity and how plant life and soil conditions interact to support ecosystem health.
• Surelac Marius is a biochemist with a background in molecular biology. He specializes in metagenomics and microbial ecology, leading the DNA extraction and sequencing aspects of the project, with a focus on antimicrobial resistance in soil microbiota.
• Racoviceanu Tudor is a natural scientist focused on ecosystem services. His research explores how different landscapes affect ecosystem health, with a particular interest in linking natural processes and conservation practices to human well-being.