Surface soil microbiome in a three-depth gradient on the northern and southern slopes of La Campana National Park

The Parque Nacional de la Campana (PNLC) is a biodiversity hotspot known for its flora, fauna and the richness of its microbial communities. The aim of this study was to analyze the structure and composition of microbial communities (Bacteria, Archaea and Fungi) and their relationship with vegetation communities in the PNLC. The study was conducted on two slopes with opposite solar exposure: the southern slope with sclerophyll forest and the northern slope with xerophytic shrubland. The distribution of communities was analyzed based on variables such as depth, elevation and slope. DNA was extracted from the soil surface at three depths (5 cm, 10 cm and 15 cm) and massively sequenced (iTag-16S rRNA, V4 and ITS1-5F) to characterize vegetation ecosystems, physicochemical properties of organic matter and soil microbial composition.