Water inputs across the Namib Desert: implications for dryland edaphic microbiology

Microbes have a dominant role in nutrient cycling processes the world’s deserts, where growth and activity are limited by availability of water. In order to understand dynamics water desert system how it may affect soil microbiome, we analysed temperature relative humidity fluctuations recorded between April 2018 2020 across precipitation gradient Namib Desert compared them with data from satellites nearby weather stations. This allowed us assess possible impact fog rain events terms biologically-available Using published literature on limits for various physiological microorganisms, were able infer annual ‘metabolic windows’ microbial communities longitudinal gradient. Specifically, surface estimated capacity active an average 184- 363 hours per year duration heavily dependent intermittent rainfall events. During relatively wet period - March 2019, maximum window was found hyper-arid central region transect (approximately 100 km coast). dryer 2019- period, there almost no predicted but substantial metabolic windows both near coast eastern inland areas, input comes form moist coastal air, higher rainfall, respectively. As first detailed study characteristics near-surface soils, this provides valuable insights into biogeography communities. addition, estimates organismal functionality calculated offer baseline future quantitation impacts climate change functional microbiomes.