Microbial diversity in subtropical forest soils

Microorganisms in subtropical forest soils are responsible for many functions of the ecosystems such as organic matter degradation, carbon and nitrogen cycling. It is crucial to understand how environmental factors drive microbial community composition and diversity. Bacterial and archaeal communities were investigated in different layers, forest types and seasons in subtropical Nanling Natural Reserve of Guangdong China via Miseq high throughput sequencing of 16S rRNA genes. Soil parameters, soil layers, forest types and change of seasons were evaluated for their relation with microbial community structure and diversity. The results showed that the phyla Acidobacteria (54.16%) and Proteobacteria (20.73%) dominated the subtropical forest soils. The parameters pH, organic matter, total N, hydrolysable N, available P, NO3-, and NH4+ significantly related to microbial community structure and diversity, while total P, total K, SO42-, and Al3+ did not. Soil layers significantly affected microbial community structure and diversity, however, forest types and change of seasons were not significantly correlated with microbial communities. This study added our understanding on the effect of factors on prokaryote community structure and diversity in subtropical forests.

亚热带森林土壤中的微生物承担着生态系统诸多关键功能，例如有机质降解、碳氮循环等。解析环境因子如何调控微生物群落组成与多样性，具有重要研究意义。本研究以中国广东亚热带南岭国家级自然保护区为研究区域，针对不同土层、林型及季节条件下的细菌与古菌群落，采用16S rRNA基因Miseq高通量测序技术开展分析。研究评估了土壤理化参数、土层、林型与季节变化对微生物群落结构及多样性的影响效应。研究结果显示，亚热带森林土壤中酸杆菌门（Acidobacteria，占比54.16%）与变形菌门（Proteobacteria，占比20.73%）为优势类群。土壤pH、有机质、全氮、水解性氮、有效磷、硝酸根（NO3-）与铵根（NH4+）等参数与微生物群落结构及多样性呈显著相关关系，而全磷、全钾、硫酸根（SO42-）及铝离子（Al3+）则无显著关联。土层显著影响微生物群落结构与多样性，但林型与季节变化对微生物群落无显著相关关系。本研究深化了学界对亚热带森林中原核生物群落结构及多样性影响因子的认知。