Abstract
Using a high-throughput metagenomic approach, we evaluated nifH-harboring bacterial communities and their assembly in the Gotjawal forest, which was naturally formed on basalt rocks with thin layer of soil. Significant differences in soil properties and community structure were observed in comparison with similar communities in various habitats, including other lava-formed forests (on Jeju Island and in Hawaii) and in regions with high humidity (Florida) or low temperatures (Alaska). nifH-harboring bacterial communities were found to assemble along gradients of environmental factors, particularly cation-exchange capacity. Unlike in other regions, in the Gotjawal forest, Paenibacillus and Clostridium, which belong to the phylum Firmicutes, were present in significantly higher proportion than in other regions. Network analysis suggested that much fewer co-occurrence relationships occurred in the Gotjawal forest than in other lava-formed forests. Our results indicate that the unique nifH-harboring bacterial community and its assembly in the Gotjawal forest are due to its distinctive soil properties, which has implications for microbial interactions and functional potentials.
Highlights
The Gotjawal is a unique natural forest ecosystem that covers approximately 12% (224 km2) of Jeju Island, Korea
The base cation saturation (BCS) was highly variable among soil samples; most notably, it was significantly lower in non-Gotjawal forests on Jeju Island than in other regions (p < 0.01)
Biological nitrogen fixation is a key ecosystem process influenced by resident functional microbial communities and environmental conditions
Summary
The Gotjawal is a unique natural forest ecosystem that covers approximately 12% (224 km2) of Jeju Island, Korea. The forest floor is made up of volcanic rocks and has hydrological properties essential for the ecosystem as it ensures rainwater percolation, thereby preventing water loss and maintaining constant temperature and high humidity throughout the year. These unique features create ideal conditions for the propagation of ferns and mosses. Trees rooted to the floor surface and fractured rocks on barren land rely on plants in the forest for nutrients. Mature trees in turn provide with a canopy, favoring the growth of the limited number of specialized plants found in the Gotjawal (Kang et al, 2013)
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