The widespread contamination of soils and aquifers by non-aqueous phase liquids （NAPL）, such as crude oil, poses serious environmental and health hazards globally. Understanding the infiltration characteristics of N...The widespread contamination of soils and aquifers by non-aqueous phase liquids （NAPL）, such as crude oil, poses serious environmental and health hazards globally. Understanding the infiltration characteristics of NAPL in soil is crucial in mitigating or remediating soil contamination. The infiltration characteristics of crude and diesel oils into undisturbed loessal soil cores, collected in polymethyl methacrylate cylindrical columns, were investigated under a constant fluid head （3 era） of either crude oil or diesel oil. The infiltration rate of both crude and diesel oils decreased exponentially as wetting depth increased with time. Soil core size and bulk density both had significant effects on NAPL infiltration through the undisturbed soil cores; a smaller core size or a greater bulk density could reduce oil penetration to depth. Compacting soil in areas susceptible to oil spills may be an effective stratage to reduce contamination. The infiltration of NAPL into soil cores was spatially anisotropic and heterogeneous, thus recording the data at four points on the soil core is a good stratage to improve the accuracy of experimental results. Our results revealed that crude and diesel oils, rather than their components, have a practical value for remediation of contaminated loessal soils.展开更多
The objective of this study was to investigate the vertical distribution of rare earth elements （REEs） in a natural wetland soil core to understand the influence of natural and anthropogenic activities on geochemica...The objective of this study was to investigate the vertical distribution of rare earth elements （REEs） in a natural wetland soil core to understand the influence of natural and anthropogenic activities on geochemical behavior of REEs. A natural wetland soil core of 95 cm was collected from the Sanjiang Plain in China and sliced into 5 cm slices for analyses of REEs, Fe, Al, Mn, Sc, Y, and soil organic matter （SOM）. Results indicated that SOM was accumulated in the upper part of the soil core （0 to 20 cm depth）, while Fe and Mn was reductively leached from the upper part of the soil core and accumulated in the low part. The content of total REEs ranged from 137.9 to 225.9 mg/kg in the soil core. Content profiles obtained for all REEs were almost identical except for Ce. The highest contents of REEs generally occurred at about 20 cm depth, but enrichment factor （EF） of REEs except Ce was usually the highest in the surface horizon. Average EF ranged from 1.1 for La to 2.1 for Gd. The pronounced shift in EF occurred at about 40 cm depth and it gradually increased from 40 cm depth to surface （except for Ce）, probably suggesting anthropogenic atmospheric deposition of REEs. In comparison with chondrite, Eu was depleted in all horizons, while Ce was negatively anomalous in the top horizons and positively anomalous in the bottom horizons. This positive anomaly of Ce in the bottom horizons was due to its preferential adsorption on Fe and Mn oxides, relative to other REEs. Although both natural and anthropogenic activi-ties influence the geochemical behaviors of REEs in soils, enrichment or mobility of REEs is low in the natural wetland soil core of the San-jiang Plain.展开更多
Rationale: The contamination of soil with crude oil poses significant environmental and ecological threats. Bioremediation, particularly through the use of organisms like Pleurotus ostreatus (mushroom) and Eisenia fet...Rationale: The contamination of soil with crude oil poses significant environmental and ecological threats. Bioremediation, particularly through the use of organisms like Pleurotus ostreatus (mushroom) and Eisenia fetida (earthworm), has emerged as a promising approach to mitigate crude oil pollution. Understanding the effectiveness of these organisms in reducing hydrocarbon levels in contaminated soil is crucial for devising sustainable remediation strategies. Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of Pleurotus ostreatus and Eisenia fetida in remediating crude oil-polluted soil. Specifically, it sought to assess the hydrocarbon profiles in soil treated with these organisms across varying concentrations of crude oil pollution. Method: Crude oil concentration levels ranging from 0% to 10% were applied to soil samples alongside control treatments, including soil only, soil with earthworms, and soil with mushrooms. Each treatment was replicated five times using a randomized complete block design. Standard methods were employed to determine the hydrocarbon contents of the soil. Results: The results indicated a significant increase (P Pleurotus ostreatus and Eisenia fetida exhibited noteworthy reductions in these hydrocarbon levels. At the three-month mark, mushrooms demonstrated a remarkable ability to reduce hydrocarbon content by 70% - 90% compared to the pollution treatment. In contrast, earthworms exhibited minimal potential for hydrocarbon reduction, particularly at both three and six-month intervals. For instance, TOC reduction reached a maximum of 96% with mushroom treatment and 85% with earthworm treatment at 5% crude oil pollution over six months. Conclusion: The findings highlight the effectiveness of Pleurotus ostreatus in significantly reducing hydrocarbon levels in crude oil-polluted soil compared to Eisenia fetida. Mushroom-treated soils consistently exhibited substantial reductions in TOC, TPH, TOG, PAH, and THC over the study period, suggesting their potential as a viable bioremediation agent. In contrast, while earthworms showed some capability in reducing hydrocarbon content, their effectiveness was comparatively limited. Recommendation: Based on the results, it is recommended to utilize Pleurotus ostreatus for the bioremediation of crude oil-polluted soils. Further research could explore optimizing remediation protocols involving mushroom-based treatments for enhanced efficiency. Statement of Significance: This study contributes valuable insights into the application of bioremediation techniques for mitigating crude oil contamination in soil. The demonstrated efficacy of Pleurotus ostreatus underscores its potential as a sustainable and eco-friendly solution for remediating hydrocarbon-polluted environments, offering a promising avenue for environmental restoration and conservation efforts.展开更多
Soil saturated hydraulic conductivity(K_s) is a predominant input factor when forecasting the vertical transport of contaminants through the soil or when estimating the flood retention capacity of the soil. Displaceme...Soil saturated hydraulic conductivity(K_s) is a predominant input factor when forecasting the vertical transport of contaminants through the soil or when estimating the flood retention capacity of the soil. Displacement of contaminants in the soil over extended periods of time can be attributed mainly to matrix flow, whereas flow through macropores becomes significant under untypically wet conditions, e.g., during spills or rain storms. To obtain matrix conductivities for a soil, the effects of macropores should be excluded.However, the K_s values of a soil profile are unlikely to be reflected solely by pedotransfer tables based on soil texture and bulk density.In this study, we examined five different methods(pedotransfer table, soil core, borehole permeameter, particle-size distribution curve, and instantaneous profile) to determine K_s values for a mercury-contaminated riparian soil for subsequent simulation of longterm mercury displacement toward groundwater. We found that the determined K_s values increased in the following order: borehole permeameter < particle-size distribution curve < pedotransfer table < instantaneous profile < soil core. The instantaneous profile method yielded K_s values of matrix flow, which additionally reflected the structure-related features of K_s values as provided by the soil core method. Despite being labor intensive and requiring expensive field sensors, the instantaneous profile method may provide the best representative in-situ K_s values for the studied site.展开更多
<span style="font-family:Verdana;">Soil bulk density and moisture content are dynamic properties that vary with changes in soil and field conditions and have many agricultural, hydrological and environ...<span style="font-family:Verdana;">Soil bulk density and moisture content are dynamic properties that vary with changes in soil and field conditions and have many agricultural, hydrological and environmental implications. The main objective of this study was to compare between a soil core sampling method (core) and the CPN MC-3 Elite<span style="white-space:nowrap;"><sup>TM</sup></span> nuclear gauge method (radiation) for measuring bulk density (<span style="white-space:nowrap;"><i><span style="font-family:Verdana;white-space:normal;"></span><span style="font-family:Verdana;white-space:normal;"><span style="white-space:nowrap;"><i>ρ<sub>B</sub></i></span></span></i></span>) and volumetric moisture content (<span style="white-space:nowrap;"><i><span style="font-family:Verdana;white-space:normal;"><span style="white-space:nowrap;"><i>θ<span style="font-size:10.9091px;">v</span></i></span></span></i></span>) in a clay loam soil. Soil <span style="white-space:nowrap;"><i><span style="font-family:Verdana;white-space:normal;"><span style="white-space:nowrap;"><i>ρ<sub>B</sub></i></span></span></i></span> and <span style="white-space:nowrap;"><i><span style="font-family:Verdana;white-space:normal;"></span><span style="font-family:Verdana;white-space:normal;"><span style="white-space:nowrap;"><i>θ<span style="font-size:10.9091px;">v</span></i></span></span></i></span> measurements were determined using the core and radiation methods at 0 - 10 and 10 - 20 cm soil depths. The mean values of soil <span style="white-space:nowrap;"><i><span style="font-family:Verdana;white-space:normal;"><span style="white-space:nowrap;"><i>ρ<sub>B</sub></i></span></span></i></span> obtained using the core method (1.454, 1.492 g<span style="color:#4F4F4F;font-family:" font-size:14px;white-space:normal;background-color:#f7f7f7;"="">·</span>cm<span style="white-space:nowrap;"><sup>−3</sup></span>) were greater than those obtained using the radiation method (1.343, 1.476 g<span style="color:#4F4F4F;font-family:" font-size:14px;white-space:normal;background-color:#f7f7f7;"="">·</span>cm<span style="white-space:nowrap;"><sup>−3</sup></span>) at the 0 - 10 and 10 - 20 cm depths, respectively. Mean <span style="white-space:nowrap;"><i><span style="font-family:Verdana;white-space:normal;"><span style="white-space:nowrap;"><i>ρ<sub>B</sub></i></span></span></i></span> and <span style="white-space:nowrap;"><i><span style="font-family:Verdana;white-space:normal;"><span style="white-space:nowrap;"><i>θ<span style="font-size:10.9091px;">v</span></i></span></span></i></span> values averaged across both depths (referred to as the 0 - 20 cm depth) measured by the core method were 4.47% and 22.74% greater, respectively, than those obtained by the radiation method. The coefficients of variation (CV) of soil <span style="white-space:nowrap;"><i><span style="font-family:Verdana;white-space:normal;"></span><span style="font-family:Verdana;white-space:normal;"><span style="white-space:nowrap;"><i>ρ<sub>B</sub></i></span></span></i></span> values measured by the core method were lower than the CV values of those measured by the radiation method at both depths;however, the CV’s of <span style="white-space:nowrap;"><i><span style="font-family:Verdana;white-space:normal;"><span style="white-space:nowrap;"><i>ρ<sub>B</sub></i></span></span></i></span> values for both methods were larger at the 0 - 10 cm depth than those measured at the 10 - 20 cm depth. Similarly, the CV values of soil <span style="white-space:nowrap;"><i><span style="font-family:Verdana;white-space:normal;"><span style="white-space:nowrap;"><i>θ<sub>v</sub></i></span></span></i></span> values measured by the core method were lower than the CV values of those measured by the radiation method at both depths. There were significant differences between two methods in terms of <span style="white-space:nowrap;"><i><span style="font-family:Verdana;white-space:normal;"><span style="white-space:nowrap;"><i>ρ<sub>B</sub></i></span></span></i></span> and <span style="white-space:nowrap;"><i><span style="font-family:Verdana;white-space:normal;"><span style="white-space:nowrap;"><i>θ<sub>v</sub></i></span></span></i></span>, with the core method generating greater values than the radiation method at the 0 - 20 cm depth. These discrepancies between the two methods could have resulted from soil compaction and soil disturbance caused by the core and radiation techniques, respectively, as well as by other sources of error. Nevertheless, the core sampling method is considered the most common one for measuring <span style="white-space:nowrap;"><i><span style="font-family:Verdana;white-space:normal;"><span style="white-space:nowrap;"><i>ρ<sub>B</sub></i></span></span></i></span> for many agricultural, hydrological and environmental studies in most soils.</span>展开更多
Functional redundancy in soil microbial communities seems to contradict the notion that individual species have distinct metabolic niches in multi-species communities.All soil microbiota have the metabolic capacity fo...Functional redundancy in soil microbial communities seems to contradict the notion that individual species have distinct metabolic niches in multi-species communities.All soil microbiota have the metabolic capacity for"basic"functions(e.g.,respiration and nitrogen and phosphorus cycling),but only a few soil microbiota participate in"rare"functions(e.g.,methanogenesis and mineralization of recalcitrant organic pollutants).The objective of this perspective paper is to use the phylogenetic niche conservatism theory as an explanation for the functional redundancy of soil microbiota.Phylogenetic niche conservatism is defined as the tendency for lineages to retain ancestral functional characteristics through evolutionary time-scales.The present-day soil microbiota is the result of a community assembly process that started when prokaryotes first appeared on Earth.For billions of years,microbiota have retained a highly conserved set of core genes that control the essential redox and biogeochemical reactions for life on Earth.These genes are passed from microbe to microbe,which contributes to functional redundancy in soil microbiota at the planetary scale.The assembly of microbial communities during soil formation is consistent with phylogenetic niche conservatism.Within a specific soil,the heterogeneous matrix provides an infinite number of sets of diverse environmental conditions,i.e.,niches that lead to the divergence of microbial species.The phylogenetic niche conservatism theory predicts that two or more microbial species diverging from the same clade will have an overlap in their niches,implying that they are functionally redundant in some of their metabolic processes.The endogenous genetic factors that constrain the adaptation of individuals and,thus,populations to changing environmental conditions constitute the core process of phylogenetic niche conservatism.Furthermore,the degree of functional redundancy in a particular soil is proportional to the complexity of the considered function.We conclude with a conceptual model that identifies six patterns of functional redundancy in soil microbial communities,consistent with the phylogenetic niche conservatism theory.展开更多
基金supported by the Innovation Team Pro-gram of Chinese Academy of Sciencesthe Program for Innovative Research Team in University (No IRT0749)
文摘The widespread contamination of soils and aquifers by non-aqueous phase liquids （NAPL）, such as crude oil, poses serious environmental and health hazards globally. Understanding the infiltration characteristics of NAPL in soil is crucial in mitigating or remediating soil contamination. The infiltration characteristics of crude and diesel oils into undisturbed loessal soil cores, collected in polymethyl methacrylate cylindrical columns, were investigated under a constant fluid head （3 era） of either crude oil or diesel oil. The infiltration rate of both crude and diesel oils decreased exponentially as wetting depth increased with time. Soil core size and bulk density both had significant effects on NAPL infiltration through the undisturbed soil cores; a smaller core size or a greater bulk density could reduce oil penetration to depth. Compacting soil in areas susceptible to oil spills may be an effective stratage to reduce contamination. The infiltration of NAPL into soil cores was spatially anisotropic and heterogeneous, thus recording the data at four points on the soil core is a good stratage to improve the accuracy of experimental results. Our results revealed that crude and diesel oils, rather than their components, have a practical value for remediation of contaminated loessal soils.
基金Project supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China (40930740)
文摘The objective of this study was to investigate the vertical distribution of rare earth elements （REEs） in a natural wetland soil core to understand the influence of natural and anthropogenic activities on geochemical behavior of REEs. A natural wetland soil core of 95 cm was collected from the Sanjiang Plain in China and sliced into 5 cm slices for analyses of REEs, Fe, Al, Mn, Sc, Y, and soil organic matter （SOM）. Results indicated that SOM was accumulated in the upper part of the soil core （0 to 20 cm depth）, while Fe and Mn was reductively leached from the upper part of the soil core and accumulated in the low part. The content of total REEs ranged from 137.9 to 225.9 mg/kg in the soil core. Content profiles obtained for all REEs were almost identical except for Ce. The highest contents of REEs generally occurred at about 20 cm depth, but enrichment factor （EF） of REEs except Ce was usually the highest in the surface horizon. Average EF ranged from 1.1 for La to 2.1 for Gd. The pronounced shift in EF occurred at about 40 cm depth and it gradually increased from 40 cm depth to surface （except for Ce）, probably suggesting anthropogenic atmospheric deposition of REEs. In comparison with chondrite, Eu was depleted in all horizons, while Ce was negatively anomalous in the top horizons and positively anomalous in the bottom horizons. This positive anomaly of Ce in the bottom horizons was due to its preferential adsorption on Fe and Mn oxides, relative to other REEs. Although both natural and anthropogenic activi-ties influence the geochemical behaviors of REEs in soils, enrichment or mobility of REEs is low in the natural wetland soil core of the San-jiang Plain.
文摘Rationale: The contamination of soil with crude oil poses significant environmental and ecological threats. Bioremediation, particularly through the use of organisms like Pleurotus ostreatus (mushroom) and Eisenia fetida (earthworm), has emerged as a promising approach to mitigate crude oil pollution. Understanding the effectiveness of these organisms in reducing hydrocarbon levels in contaminated soil is crucial for devising sustainable remediation strategies. Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of Pleurotus ostreatus and Eisenia fetida in remediating crude oil-polluted soil. Specifically, it sought to assess the hydrocarbon profiles in soil treated with these organisms across varying concentrations of crude oil pollution. Method: Crude oil concentration levels ranging from 0% to 10% were applied to soil samples alongside control treatments, including soil only, soil with earthworms, and soil with mushrooms. Each treatment was replicated five times using a randomized complete block design. Standard methods were employed to determine the hydrocarbon contents of the soil. Results: The results indicated a significant increase (P Pleurotus ostreatus and Eisenia fetida exhibited noteworthy reductions in these hydrocarbon levels. At the three-month mark, mushrooms demonstrated a remarkable ability to reduce hydrocarbon content by 70% - 90% compared to the pollution treatment. In contrast, earthworms exhibited minimal potential for hydrocarbon reduction, particularly at both three and six-month intervals. For instance, TOC reduction reached a maximum of 96% with mushroom treatment and 85% with earthworm treatment at 5% crude oil pollution over six months. Conclusion: The findings highlight the effectiveness of Pleurotus ostreatus in significantly reducing hydrocarbon levels in crude oil-polluted soil compared to Eisenia fetida. Mushroom-treated soils consistently exhibited substantial reductions in TOC, TPH, TOG, PAH, and THC over the study period, suggesting their potential as a viable bioremediation agent. In contrast, while earthworms showed some capability in reducing hydrocarbon content, their effectiveness was comparatively limited. Recommendation: Based on the results, it is recommended to utilize Pleurotus ostreatus for the bioremediation of crude oil-polluted soils. Further research could explore optimizing remediation protocols involving mushroom-based treatments for enhanced efficiency. Statement of Significance: This study contributes valuable insights into the application of bioremediation techniques for mitigating crude oil contamination in soil. The demonstrated efficacy of Pleurotus ostreatus underscores its potential as a sustainable and eco-friendly solution for remediating hydrocarbon-polluted environments, offering a promising avenue for environmental restoration and conservation efforts.
文摘Soil saturated hydraulic conductivity(K_s) is a predominant input factor when forecasting the vertical transport of contaminants through the soil or when estimating the flood retention capacity of the soil. Displacement of contaminants in the soil over extended periods of time can be attributed mainly to matrix flow, whereas flow through macropores becomes significant under untypically wet conditions, e.g., during spills or rain storms. To obtain matrix conductivities for a soil, the effects of macropores should be excluded.However, the K_s values of a soil profile are unlikely to be reflected solely by pedotransfer tables based on soil texture and bulk density.In this study, we examined five different methods(pedotransfer table, soil core, borehole permeameter, particle-size distribution curve, and instantaneous profile) to determine K_s values for a mercury-contaminated riparian soil for subsequent simulation of longterm mercury displacement toward groundwater. We found that the determined K_s values increased in the following order: borehole permeameter < particle-size distribution curve < pedotransfer table < instantaneous profile < soil core. The instantaneous profile method yielded K_s values of matrix flow, which additionally reflected the structure-related features of K_s values as provided by the soil core method. Despite being labor intensive and requiring expensive field sensors, the instantaneous profile method may provide the best representative in-situ K_s values for the studied site.
文摘<span style="font-family:Verdana;">Soil bulk density and moisture content are dynamic properties that vary with changes in soil and field conditions and have many agricultural, hydrological and environmental implications. The main objective of this study was to compare between a soil core sampling method (core) and the CPN MC-3 Elite<span style="white-space:nowrap;"><sup>TM</sup></span> nuclear gauge method (radiation) for measuring bulk density (<span style="white-space:nowrap;"><i><span style="font-family:Verdana;white-space:normal;"></span><span style="font-family:Verdana;white-space:normal;"><span style="white-space:nowrap;"><i>ρ<sub>B</sub></i></span></span></i></span>) and volumetric moisture content (<span style="white-space:nowrap;"><i><span style="font-family:Verdana;white-space:normal;"><span style="white-space:nowrap;"><i>θ<span style="font-size:10.9091px;">v</span></i></span></span></i></span>) in a clay loam soil. Soil <span style="white-space:nowrap;"><i><span style="font-family:Verdana;white-space:normal;"><span style="white-space:nowrap;"><i>ρ<sub>B</sub></i></span></span></i></span> and <span style="white-space:nowrap;"><i><span style="font-family:Verdana;white-space:normal;"></span><span style="font-family:Verdana;white-space:normal;"><span style="white-space:nowrap;"><i>θ<span style="font-size:10.9091px;">v</span></i></span></span></i></span> measurements were determined using the core and radiation methods at 0 - 10 and 10 - 20 cm soil depths. The mean values of soil <span style="white-space:nowrap;"><i><span style="font-family:Verdana;white-space:normal;"><span style="white-space:nowrap;"><i>ρ<sub>B</sub></i></span></span></i></span> obtained using the core method (1.454, 1.492 g<span style="color:#4F4F4F;font-family:" font-size:14px;white-space:normal;background-color:#f7f7f7;"="">·</span>cm<span style="white-space:nowrap;"><sup>−3</sup></span>) were greater than those obtained using the radiation method (1.343, 1.476 g<span style="color:#4F4F4F;font-family:" font-size:14px;white-space:normal;background-color:#f7f7f7;"="">·</span>cm<span style="white-space:nowrap;"><sup>−3</sup></span>) at the 0 - 10 and 10 - 20 cm depths, respectively. Mean <span style="white-space:nowrap;"><i><span style="font-family:Verdana;white-space:normal;"><span style="white-space:nowrap;"><i>ρ<sub>B</sub></i></span></span></i></span> and <span style="white-space:nowrap;"><i><span style="font-family:Verdana;white-space:normal;"><span style="white-space:nowrap;"><i>θ<span style="font-size:10.9091px;">v</span></i></span></span></i></span> values averaged across both depths (referred to as the 0 - 20 cm depth) measured by the core method were 4.47% and 22.74% greater, respectively, than those obtained by the radiation method. The coefficients of variation (CV) of soil <span style="white-space:nowrap;"><i><span style="font-family:Verdana;white-space:normal;"></span><span style="font-family:Verdana;white-space:normal;"><span style="white-space:nowrap;"><i>ρ<sub>B</sub></i></span></span></i></span> values measured by the core method were lower than the CV values of those measured by the radiation method at both depths;however, the CV’s of <span style="white-space:nowrap;"><i><span style="font-family:Verdana;white-space:normal;"><span style="white-space:nowrap;"><i>ρ<sub>B</sub></i></span></span></i></span> values for both methods were larger at the 0 - 10 cm depth than those measured at the 10 - 20 cm depth. Similarly, the CV values of soil <span style="white-space:nowrap;"><i><span style="font-family:Verdana;white-space:normal;"><span style="white-space:nowrap;"><i>θ<sub>v</sub></i></span></span></i></span> values measured by the core method were lower than the CV values of those measured by the radiation method at both depths. There were significant differences between two methods in terms of <span style="white-space:nowrap;"><i><span style="font-family:Verdana;white-space:normal;"><span style="white-space:nowrap;"><i>ρ<sub>B</sub></i></span></span></i></span> and <span style="white-space:nowrap;"><i><span style="font-family:Verdana;white-space:normal;"><span style="white-space:nowrap;"><i>θ<sub>v</sub></i></span></span></i></span>, with the core method generating greater values than the radiation method at the 0 - 20 cm depth. These discrepancies between the two methods could have resulted from soil compaction and soil disturbance caused by the core and radiation techniques, respectively, as well as by other sources of error. Nevertheless, the core sampling method is considered the most common one for measuring <span style="white-space:nowrap;"><i><span style="font-family:Verdana;white-space:normal;"><span style="white-space:nowrap;"><i>ρ<sub>B</sub></i></span></span></i></span> for many agricultural, hydrological and environmental studies in most soils.</span>
基金the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada(NSERC)through Discovery Grant(No.RGPIN-2017-05391).
文摘Functional redundancy in soil microbial communities seems to contradict the notion that individual species have distinct metabolic niches in multi-species communities.All soil microbiota have the metabolic capacity for"basic"functions(e.g.,respiration and nitrogen and phosphorus cycling),but only a few soil microbiota participate in"rare"functions(e.g.,methanogenesis and mineralization of recalcitrant organic pollutants).The objective of this perspective paper is to use the phylogenetic niche conservatism theory as an explanation for the functional redundancy of soil microbiota.Phylogenetic niche conservatism is defined as the tendency for lineages to retain ancestral functional characteristics through evolutionary time-scales.The present-day soil microbiota is the result of a community assembly process that started when prokaryotes first appeared on Earth.For billions of years,microbiota have retained a highly conserved set of core genes that control the essential redox and biogeochemical reactions for life on Earth.These genes are passed from microbe to microbe,which contributes to functional redundancy in soil microbiota at the planetary scale.The assembly of microbial communities during soil formation is consistent with phylogenetic niche conservatism.Within a specific soil,the heterogeneous matrix provides an infinite number of sets of diverse environmental conditions,i.e.,niches that lead to the divergence of microbial species.The phylogenetic niche conservatism theory predicts that two or more microbial species diverging from the same clade will have an overlap in their niches,implying that they are functionally redundant in some of their metabolic processes.The endogenous genetic factors that constrain the adaptation of individuals and,thus,populations to changing environmental conditions constitute the core process of phylogenetic niche conservatism.Furthermore,the degree of functional redundancy in a particular soil is proportional to the complexity of the considered function.We conclude with a conceptual model that identifies six patterns of functional redundancy in soil microbial communities,consistent with the phylogenetic niche conservatism theory.
