Abstract
Soil microbial communities can form links between forest trees and functioning of forest soils, yet the impacts of converting diverse native forests to monoculture plantations on soil microbial communities are limited. This study tested the hypothesis that conversion from a diverse native to monoculture ecosystem would be paralleled by a reduction in the diversity of the soil microbial communities. Soils from Teak (Tectona grandis) plantations and adjacent native forest were examined at two locations in Trinidad. Microbial community structure was determined via Illumina sequencing of bacterial 16S rRNA genes and fungal internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions, and by phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) analysis. Functional characteristics of microbial communities were assessed by extracellular enzyme activity (EEA). Conversion to Teak plantation had no effect on species richness or evenness of bacterial or fungal communities, and no significant effect on EEA. However, multivariate analyses (nested and two-way crossed analysis of similarity) revealed significant effects (p < 0.05) of forest type (Teak vs. native) upon the composition of the microbial communities as reflected in all three assays of community structure. Univariate analysis of variance identified two bacterial phyla that were significantly more abundant in the native forest soils than in Teak soils (Cyanobacteria, p = 0.0180; Nitrospirae, p = 0.0100) and two more abundant in Teak soils than in native forest (candidate phyla TM7, p = 0.0004; WS6, p = 0.044). Abundance of an unidentified class of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) was significantly greater in Teak soils, notable because Teak is colonized by AMF rather than by ectomycorrihzal fungi that are symbionts of the native forest tree species. In conclusion, microbial diversity indices were not affected in the conversion of native forest to teak plantation, but examination of specific bacterial taxa showed that there were significant differences in community composition.
Highlights
Soil microorganisms are an integral part of forest ecosystems as they play central roles in most nutrient transformations in forest soils
Studies have reported that soil microbial composition and or community structure can be altered by plant species, plant diversity, vegetation or forest type through modifying the site microclimate and litter chemistry (De Deyn et al, 2008; Wardle et al, 2012; Jassey et al, 2013)
To gain a better understanding of how microbial communities respond to changes in forest vegetation, the objectives of this study were: (1) To determine if there are any significant differences between the microbial alpha- and beta- diversities of a plantation forest soil vs. a native forest soil, (2) To determine if there are significant effects of forest type, age of teak stands and forest location on microbial biodiversity of soils, (3) To determine if there are any changes in the levels and patterns of key soil enzymes in a plantation forest soil vs. a native forest soil
Summary
Soil microorganisms are an integral part of forest ecosystems as they play central roles in most nutrient transformations in forest soils. The interactions between above- and below ground components of forest ecosystems have been receiving extensive research attention with a growing interest in ascertaining the effect of tree types on soil microbial community. Studies have reported that soil microbial composition and or community structure can be altered by plant species, plant diversity, vegetation or forest type through modifying the site microclimate and litter chemistry (De Deyn et al, 2008; Wardle et al, 2012; Jassey et al, 2013). No significant differences were found in soil bacterial diversity, using pyrosequencing, along altitudinal gradients in forest soils (Shi et al, 2012; Wardle et al, 2012; Siles and Margesin, 2016) while (Jassey et al, 2013) found the highest bacterial diversity at medium elevations and Singh et al (2014) found a higher bacterial diversity at higher altitudes than at medium altitudes
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