Response of soil microbes to added nitrogen

In 2001, seven experimental sites were set up in areas of moist meadow alpine tundra on Niwot Ridge on the Front Range of CO, USA. At each site, ten 1 m^2 plots were established where there was roughly even cover by two dominant plant species, Geum rossii (forb) and Deschampsia cespitosa (grass). In a factorial design, plots were assigned treatments of 1) removal of G. rossii, D. cespitosa, or control (no plant removal), and 2) nutrient addition of nitrogen (N) or control (no addition). Soils were collected in 2018 to determine how dominant plant species shape soil microbial community response to added N.