Grazing intensity alters network complexity and predator–prey relationships in the soil microbiome

ABSTRACT Grasslands are recognized as important reservoirs of soil biodiversity. Livestock grazing is implemented as a grassland management strategy to improve soil quality and enhance plant diversity. Soil microbial communities play a pivotal role in grassland ecosystems, so it is important to examine whether grazing practices affect the soil microbiome. Previous studies on grazing have primarily focused on bacteria and fungi, overlooking an important group—protists. Protists are vital in soil microbiomes as they drive nutrient availability and trophic interactions. Determining the impact of grazing on protists and their relationships with bacterial and fungal communities is important for understanding soil microbiome dynamics in grazed ecosystems. In this study, we investigated soil bacterial, fungal, and protist communities under four grazing levels: no grazing, moderate-use grazing, full-use grazing, and heavy-use grazing. Our results showed that heavy grazing led to a greater diversity of protists with specific groups, such as Discoba and Conosa, increasing in abundance. We also found strong associations between protist and bacterial/fungal members, indicating their intricate relationships within the soil microbiome. For example, the abundance of predatory protists increased under grazing while arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi decreased. Notably, arbuscular mycorrhizae were negatively associated with predatory groups. Furthermore, we observed that microbial network complexity increased with grazing intensity, with fungal members playing an important role in the network. Overall, our study reports the impact of temporal grazing intensity on soil microbial dynamics and highlights the importance of considering protist ecology when evaluating the effects of grazing on belowground communities in grassland ecosystems. IMPORTANCE The significance of this study lies in its exploration of the effects of temporal grazing intensity on the dynamics of the soil microbiome, specifically focusing on the often-neglected role of protists. Our findings provide insights into the complex relationships between protists, bacteria, and fungi, emphasizing their impact on trophic interactions in the soil. Gaining a better understanding of these dynamics is essential for developing effective strategies for grassland management and conservation, underscoring the importance of incorporating protist ecology into microbiome studies in grasslands.