Microbial activity in forest soils is driven by the dynamics of ecosystem processes, largely dependent on trees as the major primary producers. Diurnal variation of root activity, seasonality of photosynthate production or recalcitrance of decomposing plant biomass all affect microbial abundance, composition of their communities and activity. Due to low N content, fungi appear to be the major decomposers of complex plant biomass: litter and deadwood and to largely shape associated bacterial communities and their activity. On the other hand, bacteria are important in decomposition of fungal mycelia and N-cycle processes including N-fixation. Microbial activity is also affected in the short term by climatic events and in the long-term by ecosystem development after disturbances.

Laboratory of Environmental Microbiology Institute of Microbiology of the CAS Vídeňská 1083 14220 Praha 4 Czech Republic

References provided by Crossref.org

Bacterial, but not fungal, communities show spatial heterogeneity in European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) deadwood

Successional Development of Fungal Communities Associated with Decomposing Deadwood in a Natural Mixed Temperate Forest

Production of Fungal Mycelia in a Temperate Coniferous Forest Shows Distinct Seasonal Patterns