Abstract
Forest management often results in changes in soil microbial communities. To understand how forest management can change microbial communities, we studied soil microbial abundance and community structure in a natural Chamaecyparis (NCP) forest, a disturbed Chamaecyparis (DCP) forest, a secondary (regenerated) Chamaecyparis (SCP) forest and a secondary (reforested) Cryptomeria (SCD) forest. We analyzed soil microbial abundance by measuring phospholipid fatty acids (PLFAs) and microbial community structure by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) in the studied forest soils. The content of the soil PLFA fungal biomarker decreased from NCP to SCP, DCP and SCD forest soils, associated with the degree of disturbance of forest management. The ratio of soil Gram positive–to-negative bacteria and the stress index (16:1ω7t to 16:1ω7c) increased from NCP to SCP and DCP soils; thus, disturbed forests except for SCD showed increased soil microbial stress. Principal component analysis of soil microbial groups by PLFAs separated the four forest soils into three clusters: NCP, DCP and SCP, and SCD soil. The DGGE analysis showed no difference in the microbial community structure for NCP, DCP and SCP soils, but the community structure differed between SCD and the three other forest soils. In cloud montane forests, disturbance due to forest management had only a slight influence on the soil microbial community, whereas reforestation with different species largely changed the soil microbial community structure.
Highlights
Soil microorganisms are essential for maintaining soil fertility and plant growth because they play important roles in nutrient cycling and availability [1]
The denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) analysis showed no difference in the microbial community structure for natural Chamaecyparis (NCP), disturbed Chamaecyparis (DCP) and secondary (regenerated) Chamaecyparis (SCP) soils, but the community structure differed between secondary (reforested) Cryptomeria (SCD) and the three other forest soils
Content was lower in the reforested Cryptomeria (SCD) forest than in all Chamaecyparis forests, and it did not differ among the three Chamaecyparis forests (NCP, DCP and SCP)
Summary
Soil microorganisms are essential for maintaining soil fertility and plant growth because they play important roles in nutrient cycling and availability [1]. The soil microbial community is vital for a forest ecosystem to maintain long-term sustainability. Forest management such as tree harvesting and replanting can change the soil microbial community and the soil physico-chemical properties, such as the C and N contents, and biochemical activities [2,3,4,5]. These effects are attributed to changes in litter quality, root exudates, and nutrient uptake with forest management [6,7]. The timber of Chamaecyparis is rich in essential oils, and with its rigid intrinsic structure, the wood can resist decay
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