Quercus rubra and the associated native woodland soil microbiome

The objective of this study is to characterize soil microbiomes in five paired adjacent Quercus rubra vs. native woodland locations in southern Poland, separately for the organic and mineral soil horizons. The following research questions were addressed in this study: (1) Are there differences in soil microbial diversity and community structure between invasive Q. rubra vs. native locations? (2) Are there specific bacterial, archaeal, or fungal phylotypes that associate with different types of vegetation (invasive vs. native) and/or soil horizons? (3) Do soil microbial communities from Q. rubra and native vegetation sites share a core soil microbiome? (4) Do the microbial functions differ between soils from Q. rubra vs. native vegetation sites?