Microbial activity in forest soil reflects the changes in ecosystem properties between summer and winter
Language English Country Great Britain, England Media print-electronic
Document type Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
- MeSH
- Archaea classification genetics MeSH
- Bacteria classification genetics MeSH
- Pinaceae microbiology MeSH
- Ecosystem MeSH
- Photosynthesis MeSH
- Transcription, Genetic genetics MeSH
- Fungi classification genetics MeSH
- Forests MeSH
- RNA, Messenger biosynthesis genetics MeSH
- Microbiota genetics MeSH
- Mycorrhizae MeSH
- Soil MeSH
- Soil Microbiology * MeSH
- Seasons MeSH
- Gene Expression Profiling MeSH
- Trees microbiology MeSH
- Publication type
- Journal Article MeSH
- Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
- Names of Substances
- RNA, Messenger MeSH
- Soil MeSH
Understanding the ecology of coniferous forests is very important because these environments represent globally largest carbon sinks. Metatranscriptomics, microbial community and enzyme analyses were combined to describe the detailed role of microbial taxa in the functioning of the Picea abies-dominated coniferous forest soil in two contrasting seasons. These seasons were the summer, representing the peak of plant photosynthetic activity, and late winter, after an extended period with no photosynthate input. The results show that microbial communities were characterized by a high activity of fungi especially in litter where their contribution to microbial transcription was over 50%. Differences in abundance between summer and winter were recorded for 26-33% of bacterial genera and < 15% of fungal genera, but the transcript profiles of fungi, archaea and most bacterial phyla were significantly different among seasons. Further, the seasonal differences were larger in soil than in litter. Most importantly, fungal contribution to total microbial transcription in soil decreased from 33% in summer to 16% in winter. In particular, the activity of the abundant ectomycorrhizal fungi was reduced in winter, which indicates that plant photosynthetic production was likely one of the major drivers of changes in the functioning of microbial communities in this coniferous forest.
References provided by Crossref.org
Enzymatic degradation of cellulose in soil: A review
Factors Controlling Dead Wood Decomposition in an Old-Growth Temperate Forest in Central Europe
Metagenomes, metatranscriptomes and microbiomes of naturally decomposing deadwood
Forest Microhabitat Affects Succession of Fungal Communities on Decomposing Fine Tree Roots
Complementary Roles of Wood-Inhabiting Fungi and Bacteria Facilitate Deadwood Decomposition
Production of Fungal Mycelia in a Temperate Coniferous Forest Shows Distinct Seasonal Patterns
Feed in summer, rest in winter: microbial carbon utilization in forest topsoil
Forest Soil Bacteria: Diversity, Involvement in Ecosystem Processes, and Response to Global Change