Lava-formed Gotjawal Soil Microbiome

On Jeju Island in South Korea, the word Gotjawal refers to any naturally formed forest that grows on rocky terrain and presents a virtually impassable mixture of trees and undergrowth. These forests are ecosystems that support ecological communities and therefore represent internationally important ecological sites. Gotjawal forests are characterized by lava domes, microclimates, and ecological features shaped by volcanic activity occurring more than 5,000 years. However, many regions of the Gotjawal forest have been deforested, used for unregulated construction and civilization.The forest occurs on a highly irregular substrate of flows. Until recently, no studies had characterized the soil microorganisms in Gotjawal forests; therefore, little is known about their communities and the characteristics that precede their formation.Our study will provide important insights into understanding of the soil microbial community in the lava forest.