Soil bacteria respond to regional edapho-climatic conditions while soil fungi respond to management intensity in grasslands along a European transect

Soil microbial community structure is determined by environmental conditions and influenced other factors, such as the intensity of land use management. Studies addressing effect factors management on grassland soil communities at continental scale are missing, wide range ecosystem services provided these ecosystems thus also wanting. To address this knowledge gap, study presents data along a pan-European agro-ecological gradient. The transect included five geographical locations (Sweden, Germany, Switzerland, Portugal mainland, Azores). At each location, soils were collected in two regions characterized favourable less for plant growth. In ten regions, grasslands gradient selected, i.e. under intensive, intensive extensive Phospholipid fatty acid analysis (PLFA) was used to characterize (PLFA pattern) relation climatic properties. Over whole range, properties structure. Sweden regional growth had strongest influence communities, while mainland Azores more important. Splitting up response into individual groups reveals that, general, saprotrophic fungal biomarkers highest extensively managed bacterial differed mainly between regions. We conclude that level, climate most important influencing structure, responsive intensity. Overall agricultural sustainability could benefit from informed health promoting practices, contributes knowledge, showing importance biomass • Climate determine respond long-term low