Dispersal of bacteria and fungi into a grassland

We characterized the composition of bacteria dispersing into surface soil via three dispersal routes (from the air above the vegetation, from nearby vegetation and leaf litter near the soil surface, and from the bulk soil and litter below the top layer) by capturing dispersing cells onto glass microscope slides. We then quantified the impact of those routes on microbial community composition (bacteria and fungi) in the topmost litter layer by manipulating dispersal routes into litterbags. These data were compared to the bacterial and fungal composition found in the leaf litter, soil, and air at the field site.