Exploring diversity and interaction networks of lichen symbionts in global drylands

Aridification and climate change are accelerating biodiversity loss in drylands, which cover approximately 45% of Earth’s terrestrial surface. Lichens are central to dryland ecosystem functioning, yet the structure and drivers of their symbiotic associations remain insufficiently characterized at the community level. Here, we analyze global high-throughput sequencing data from dryland soils to investigate the diversity of lichen symbionts and to infer potential association networks. The resulting co-occurrence patterns indicate that temperature and aridity are key factors influencing the organization of these communities, with ecological modules differing in their inferred sensitivity or resilience to environmental change. While these associations remain to be experimentally validated, they provide a framework for future experimental validation and contribute to a broader understanding of how microbial symbioses may shape biodiversity and ecosystem stability in drylands under shifting climates.