Bacterial community development during plant litter decomposition

Decomposition processes in terrestrial ecosystems mediate nutrient release from plant litter back to soil or atmosphere. This process is driven especially by soil microorganisms, which are capable to degrade carbon substrates by extracellular enzymes. Litter of Carex humilis, Astragalus exscapus from a grassland site and Fagus sylvatica from a forest site were subjected to one year long litterbag experiment. Plant substrate quality but not their origin influenced decomposition process by decomposition rate, degradation chemistry and microbial community. Microbial groups within the decomposers community revealed different successional strategies at plant substrates over time.