Abstract
Background and Aims Ecosystem recovery following disturbance requires the reestablishment of key soil biogeochemical processes. This long-term 7 year study describes effects of organic material, moisture, and vegetation on soil microbial community development in the Athabasca Oil Sands Region of Western Canada. Methods Phospholipid fatty acid analysis was used to characterize and compare soil microbial community composition and development on reclaimed and natural forest sites. Additionally, we conducted a laboratory moisture manipulation experiment. Results The use of forest floor material as an organic amendment resulted in a greater percent cover of upland vegetation and placed the soil microbial community on a faster trajectory towards ecosystem recovery than did the use of a peat amendment. The soil microbial composition within the reclaimed sites exhibited a greater response to changes in moisture than did the soil microbial communities from natural sites. Conclusion Our research shows that the use of native organic amendment (forest floor) on reclaimed sites, and the associated establishment of native vegetation promote the development of soil microbial communities more similar to those found on natural forest sites. Additionally, soil microbial communities from natural sites may be more resistant to changes in soil moisture than those found on reclaimed sites.
Highlights
In natural areas, forest floor layers overlying mineral soils contribute to ecosystem recovery after disturbance as they are rich sources of native plant seeds and propagules (Pare et al 1993; Whittle et al 1997), and provide energy and nutrients to the soil microbial community (Fyles and McGill 1987; Vancleve et al 1993)
Higher percent cover of trees, shrubs and forbs was found on plots reclaimed with the forest floor material (FFM) when compared to those reclaimed with the peat (PM)
Higher numbers of trees per plot and total vegetative cover were observed on all plots reclaimed with forest floor-mineral soil mix (FFM) (1.5 and 138 %, respectively) compared to those reclaimed with peat-mineral soil mix (PM) (0.2 and 87 %, respectively)
Summary
Forest floor layers overlying mineral soils contribute to ecosystem recovery after disturbance as they are rich sources of native plant seeds and propagules (Pare et al 1993; Whittle et al 1997), and provide energy and nutrients to the soil microbial community (Fyles and McGill 1987; Vancleve et al 1993). Plant communities determine litter composition (Saetre and Baath 2000), a primary source of energy and nutrients for the soil microbial community (Schutter and Dick 2001; Broughton and Gross 2000) Abiotic conditions such as soil pH (Priha et al 2001), temperature and moisture may play an important role as vegetation in driving soil microbial community composition (Fierer et al 2003; Zak et al 1999; Zogg et al 1997). Ecosystem recovery following disturbance requires the reestablishment of key soil biogeochemical processes This long-term 7 year study describes effects of organic material, moisture, and vegetation on soil microbial community development in the Athabasca Oil Sands Region of Western Canada
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