Effect of the invasive plant Acacia saligna on the soil bacterial community composition

The rising interest in plant invasion and the soil microbiome leads to questions regarding the effect of invasive plants on soil microorganisms. In this study, we determined the effect of the invasive Acacia saligna on the soil bacterial community under its canopy. Soil samples were collected from under the canopy of A. saligna, the dominant native plant Retama raetam, and bare soil plots, at three different time periods and two soil depths. The obtained results showed that the alpha diversity of the soil bacteria under the canopy of A. saligna does not differ from the control or the soil bacterial community under the canopy of Retama raetam. However, the bacterial community composition differed between the sampling times, and also between the sampling locations, but only in the 0-10 cm soil layer. Our findings demonstrate the impact of A. saligna on both the soil's bacterial community and abiotic variables. We have identified similarities and differences between these effects and those reported in a prior research conducted in South Africa. This comparison sheds light on how the plant's influence varies across diverse ecological contexts.