Do alternative stable states in the microbial landscape drive variation in ecosystem function?

Microbial community structure and ecosystem functions often co-vary, but inferring causality is challenging due to confounding abiotic state variables that may independently influence both. Here we use a natural disturbance to ask whether plants can generate alternative stable states in microbial communities under similar edaphic and climatic starting conditions. In addition, we use a variety of approaches to test how plant identity generates these alternative stable states and the consequences for key ecosystem functions.