Bacterial 16S rRNA gene sequences from Dacryodes excelsa and Prestoa montana trees in tropical forests of Puerto Rico

The form of phosphorus most easily metabolized by both plants and microbes is orthophosphate. However, orthophosphate naturally occurs in low concentrations in tropical soils. Phosphatase enzymes produced by roots and microbes are critical to breaking down organic phosphorus compounds to release orthophosphate into the soil solution. As part of a larger study that involved measuring root phosphatase activity of different tree species; 16S rRNA genes were sequenced from rhizosphere soil of Dacryodes excelsa and Prestoea montana trees at our sites in the Luquillo Mountains of Puerto Rico. This was to investigate the role that root bacterial communities play in P mineralization and P nutrient dynamics that are not well understood in tropical forests. Future work will broaden the diversity of tree species and microbial members used to provide insight into P mineralization in tropical forests and for efforts to improve representation of tropical forests in future climates.