Discrepant factors drive the diversity and composition of soil bacterial and fungal communities underlying cyanobacterial crust along a precipitation gradient In dryland ecosystems, cyanobacterial crust creates distinct microhabitats for underlying soil microbes, yet the drivers of microbial diversity and co…

New paper out @Pedosphere! We explored microbial diversity and composition in biocrusts along aridity gradient.
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...

Abiotic and biotic controls of non-native perennial plant success in drylands - Nature Ecology & Evolution It is unclear whether the harsh abiotic conditions of drylands hinder biological invasions. This global analysis shows that drylands are vulnerable to non-native plants and are likely to become more s...

Drylands are globally resistant to invasive species!

Native biodiversity and aridity are key but increasing grazing pressure and eutrophication may change the game 🌐

Our new paper is here @natecoevo.nature.com
www.nature.com/articles/s41...

New paper out!
Nutrient addition shifts bacterial life-history strategies in biocrusts from K to r. Beautiful experimental design. Shapotou (SE Tengger Desert) is an exceptional natural laboratory for ecology.
www.the-innovation.org/life/article...

Just published in @journalofecology.bsky.social Using data from 1,854 plant species coming from the @erc.europa.eu funded #BIODESERT survey, we show how climate & grazing jointly shape leaf phenolics—key defence compounds—across global drylands. Great work led by PhD student Kaarina Shilula

Exciting news! The Innovation Drug Discovery is launching!
A new international platform for breakthrough science in drug R&D, from discovery to clinical development. We aim to accelerate novel therapeutics for the world’s most critical diseases.
www.the-innovation.org/drugdiscover...
#DrugDiscovery

New paper out! The Loess Plateau provides a wonderful chance to compare drought response of planted vs. natural forests. Natural forests have lower drought vulnerability.
kwnsfk27.r.eu-west-1.awstrack.me/L0/https:%2F...

In #drylands, plants don’t grow randomly — they self-organize into disordered hyperuniform patterns that help them use water wisely & endure extreme aridity. A beautiful hidden logic of nature, revealed in a new @pnas.org study doi.org/10.1073/pnas... including #Maestrelab alumni

An amazing work! Congratulations!

To meet the targets of the #UN Rio Conventions (#UNCCD, #UNFCCC & #CBD) we must bend the curve of land degradation. Our latest Review in @natureportfolio.nature.com #Nature discusses how to do it by 2050 by urgently transforming global food systems rdcu.be/eACfr #KAUST

Soil microbial network mediate the effects of nitrogen addition on multiservices. realized by a 13-year field experiment!
besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10....

Happy to share an excellent study on the self-organized spatial patterns of biocrusts. Biocrusts make a difference. www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...

New paper out! We found that biocrust can coexist with vascular plants and form alternative states on the Loess Plateau. This is critical for restoration projects therein, especially when restoration has costed hundreds of billions of Chinese Yuan.
link.springer.com/article/10.1...

Congratulations! Bravo! Stay well in KAUST.

Beautiful views!

New paper out. Response Patterns of Three Types of Biocrust to Reduced Rainfall. Moss showed delayed response to rainfall reduction. Soil water content may play a role in mediating biocrust's response. in which way?

spj.science.org/doi/abs/10.3...

Divergent patterns and determinants of resistance and resilience in short and tall forests across global drylands - IOPscienceSearch Divergent patterns and determinants of resistance and resilience in short and tall forests across global drylands, He, Xiao, Dong, Xiaoxue, Li, Xuan, Chen, Ning, Zhao, Changming

Short forests should be noticed. Resilience and resistance of short vs. tall forests are compared.
iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1...

New paper out. Prioritizing microbial functions over soil quality for enhanced multifunctionality in saline-sodic soil remediation
Paddy cultivation improves saline-sodic soil quality by mediating core genes related to carbon, nitrogen, and especially phosphorus cycling

A wonderful group to connect with

go.bsky.app/MkLHiKU
DM @global-ecology.bsky.social to join.

Thanks a lot!

thanks for leaving a space for me in Vol 3

Please a seat for me. Happy to join. Thanks.