Assessing the effect of air-drying and storage on microbial biomass and community structure in paddy soils

To understand the effect of air-drying pre-treatment, refrigeration, and freezing storages on microbial biomass and community structure in paddy soils, we measured total phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) and PLFA profile after five treatments, including flooded (F), flooded-freezing (FF), flooded-air-drying (FAD), flooded-air-drying-freezing (FADF), and flooded-air-drying-refrigeration (FADR). FF and FADF treatments were followed by freeze-drying before analyzing the total PLFA and PLFA profile. The results showed that FF and FADF treatments increased the content of polyunsaturated fatty acids, but decreased that of branched chain saturated fatty acids. FAD treatment increased the concentrations of bacterial, aerobic bacterial, stress, Type I methanotrophs, and Gram-negative bacterial biomarkers, while it decreased the concentration of hydroxy fatty acid group and the ratios of cyclopropyl saturated fatty acids to their monoenoic precursors. FADR significantly decreased the concentration of total PLFA and all PLFA groups except for the mono-unsaturated fatty acid group. Statistical analysis with correspondence analysis showed that air-drying and storage changed the microbial community structure, but the effect of air-drying on soil microbial community structure was more pronounced than that of freezing. These results indicated that deep freezing followed by freeze-drying may be the most recommendable procedure before soil biochemical analysis in flooded paddy soils.     

Estimation by PLFA of Microbial Community Structure Associated with the Rhizosphere of Lygeum spartum and Piptatherum miliaceum Growing in Semiarid Mine Tailings

The objective of this study was to compare the microbial community composition and biomass associated with the rhizosphere of a perennial gramineous species (Lygeum spartum L.) with that of an annual (Piptatherum miliaceum L.), both growing in semiarid mine tailings. We also established their relationship with the contents of potentially toxic metals as well as with indicators of soil quality. The total phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) amount was significantly higher in the rhizosphere soil of the annual species than in the rhizosphere soil of the perennial species. The fungal/bacterial PLFA ratio was significantly greater in the perennial species compared to the annual species. The fatty acid 16:1ω5c, the fungal/bacterial PLFA ratio and monounsaturated/saturated PLFA ratio were correlated negatively with the soluble contents of toxic metals. The cyc/prec (cy17:0 + cy19:0/16:1ω7 + 18:1ω7) ratio was correlated positively with the soluble contents of Pb, Zn, Al, Ni, Cd, and Cu. The results of the PLFA analysis for profiling microbial communities and their stress status of both the plant species indicate that perennial and annual gramineous species appear equally suitable for use in programmes of revegetation of semiarid mine tailings.     

PLFA Profiling of Microbial Community Structure and Seasonal Shifts in Soils of a Douglas-fir Chronosequence

The impact and frequency of forest harvesting could significantly affect soil microbial community (SMC) structure and functioning. The ability of soil microorganisms to perform biogeochemical processes is critical for sustaining forest productivity and has a direct impact on decomposition dynamics and carbon storage potential. The Wind River Canopy Crane Research Forest in SW, WA, provided a unique opportunity to study a forest chronosequence and the residual effects of harvesting on the SMC in comparison to old-growth forests. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of clear-cutting and stand age on temporal dynamics of SMC and physiological stress markers using phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) profiling. Soil microbial PLFA profiles were determined seven times over 22 months (Nov. 02 to Sep. 04) in old-growth coniferous forest stands (300–500 years) and 8 (CC8)- or 25 (CC25)-year-old replanted clear-cuts. PLFA patterns of the SMC shifted because of clear-cutting, but seasonal temporal changes had greater shifts than differences among stand age. The microbial biomass (total PLFA) and bacterial, fungal, and selected other PLFAs were significantly reduced in CC8 but not in CC25 sites relative to the old-growth sites. An increase in stress indicators [PLFA ratios of saturated/monsaturated and (cy17:0 + cy19:0)/(16:1ω7 + 18:1ω7)] in late summer was related to water stress. Although the canopy and litter input are quite different for a 25-year clear-cut compared to virgin old-growth forest, we conclude that the composition of the microbial communities, 25 years after clear-cutting, has recovered sufficiently to be much more similar to old-growth forests than a recent clear-cut at this Pacific Northwest forest site. The study shows the potential of PLFA analysis for profiling microbial communities and their stress status under field conditions, but wide temporal shifts emphasize the need for sampling over seasons to fully interpret ecosystem management impacts on microbial populations.     

Characterization of Microbial Consortia in Paddy Rice Soil by Phospholipid Analysis

Abstract Microbial biomass and community structure in paddy rice soil during the vegetation period of rice were estimated by analysis of their phospholipid fatty acids (PLFA), hydroxy fatty acids of lipopolysaccharides (LPS-HYFA), and phospholipid ether lipids (PLEL) directly extracted from the soil. A clear change in the composition of the community structure at different sampling periods was observed, indicated by the principal component analysis of the PLFA. A dramatic decline of ester-linked PLFA was observed in the soil samples taken at the second sampling time. In contrast to the ester-linked PLFA, the non-ester-linked PLFA composition did not change. The hydroxy fatty acids of lipopolysaccharides as well as ether lipids decreased consecutively during the observation period. Total microbial abundance was estimated to be (4.1–7.3) × 10⁹ cells g^-1 soil (dry weight). About 44% account for aerobic and 32% for facultative anaerobic bacteria, and 24% for archaea, on average. According to the profile and patterns of PLFA in the soil sample, it may be suggested that the paddy soil at the August sampling period contained more abundant facultative anaerobic bacteria (ca. 36%) and archaea (ca. 37%), but the total microbial biomass was significantly lower than in the remaining sampling periods. As the plant approached maturity, the microbial community structure in the soil changed to contain more abundant Gram-negative bacteria and methanotrophs. Received: 23 September 1999; Accepted: 28 February 2000; Online Publication: 12 May 2000     

The impact of crop plant cultivation and peat amendment on soil microbial activity and structure

A rapid means for restoring soil fertility could be addition of peat to the plough layer. The impact of cultivation of eight different crops (the joint impact of plant and the management tailored for each plant), with and without soil amendment by peat treatment on soil microbiological, physical and chemical properties was assessed for two consecutive growing seasons. As a measure of the functional diversity of soil microbial community we estimated the activity of several different extracellular soil enzymes using the ZymProfiler® test kit. ATP content was measured to yield information on the amount of the active microbial biomass, and phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) profiles were analysed to reveal the microbial community structure. The enzyme activity patterns of the soil samples indicated several differences due to the different crops and years but ATP content and PLFA profiles were rather stable. However, microbial biomass as total amount of PLFAs depended on the plant and peat treatment and ATP content varied between the years. The effects of the peat treatments were less clearly indicated by the biological parameters one or two years after the amendment, as only arylsulphatase and β-xylosidase activities were affected in both the years. Soil moisture, affecting enzyme activities, depended on the year and crop plant and peat addition increased it. Abbreviations: AMC – 7-amino-4-methylcoumarin; AP – aminopeptidase; ATP – adenosine triphosphate; C_mic– microbial biomass carbon; DNA – deoxyribonucleic acid; EC – electrical conductivity; FAME – fatty acid methyl ester; fw – fresh weight; MUF – 4-methylumbelliferyl; na – not added; N_mic– microbial biomass nitrogen; PDE – phosphodiesterase; PLFA – phospholipid fatty acid; PME – phosphomonoesterase; SOM – soil organic matter     

Changa in the structure and activity of a soil microbial community caused by inorganic nitrogen fertilization

The changes in the structure and activity of a soil microbial community caused by addition of moderate and high rates of the mineral nitrogen fertilizer (KNO₃) were studied in a laboratory incubation experiment. The structure of the microbial community was evaluated from the phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) profile; specific growth rate of the microorganisms was determined by the method of the kinetics of substrate-induced respiration; the total pool of microbial carbon was estimated by the fumigation-extraction method. The amounts of nitrogen fertilizer applied in three treatments of the experiment were 0 (control), 100, and 2000 ??g N/g soil. Even in the absence of additional sources of organic carbon, a considerable portion of the added ¹⁵N (up to 74%) was immobilized. No significant increase in the amount of microbial carbon was observed during incubation. The specific growth rate of the microbial community in soil supplemented with glucose decreased twofold after addition of 2000 ??g N/g soil. In this treatment, the ratio of cyclic fatty acids to their monoenoic precursors also increased, indicating the adaptation of microbial cells to extremely high amounts of nitrogen fertilizer. Moreover, considerable changes in the structure of the soil microbial community, such as an increase in the ratio of fungalto bacterial markers and a decrease in the ratio between PLFA of gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria, were observed in the treatment with addition of 2000 ??g N/g soil. Our data clearly indicate that mineral nitrogen fertilization of soil under carbon limitation has a pronounced impact on the structure and activity of soil microbial communities.     

Standardizing methylation method during phospholipid fatty acid analysis to profile soil microbial communities

Phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) as biomarkers, is widely used to profile microbial communities in environmental samples. However, PLFA extraction and derivatization protocols are not standardized and have widely varied among published studies. Specifically investigators have used either HCl/MeOH or KOH/MeOH or both for the methylation step of PLFA analysis, without justification or research to support either one. It seems likely that each method could have very different outcomes and conclusions for PLFA based studies. Therefore, the objective of this study was to determine the effect of catalyst type for methylation on detecting PLFAs and implications for interpreting microbial profiling in soil. Fatty acid samples extracted from soils obtained from a wetland, an intermittently flooded site, and an adjacent upland site were subjected to HCl/MeOH or KOH/MeOH catalyzed methylation procedures during PLFA analyses. The methylation method using HCl/MeOH resulted in significantly higher concentrations of most PLFAs than the KOH/MeOH method. Another important outcome was that fatty acids with a methyl group (18:1ω,7c 11Me, TBSA 10Me 18:0, 10Me 18:0, 17:0 10Me and 16:0 10Me being an actinomycetes biomarker) could not be detected by HCl/MeOH catalyzed methylation but were found in appreciable concentrations with KOH/MeOH method. From our results, because the HCl/MeOH method did not detect the fatty acids containing methyl groups that could strongly influence the microbial community profile, we recommend that the KOH/MeOH catalyzed transesterification method should become the standard procedure for PLFA profiling of soil microbial communities.     

木焦油污染土壤中微生物特性的空间变异性研究

运用地统计学方法研究了木焦油污染土壤中微生物量、微生物群落结构、微生物活性等的空间变异特征.分别采用26种主要磷脂类脂肪酸(PLFA)的总含量(totPLFA)、PLFA的第一主成分和第二主成分(PLFA PC1和PC2)以及土壤培养过程中CO₂-C的累积释放量(Cre)来表征土壤中的微生物量、微生物群落结构以及微生物活性.结果表明,多数微生物特性指标均存在不同程度的空间自相关性,其半变异函数曲线可用带块金效应的球状模型进行拟合.变量的空间相关距离在2.50～16.60 m之间.PLFA PC1、totPLFA和Cre均具有较强的空间依赖性,其相对结构变差（由结构性因素引起的空间变异）分别为82.3%、79.6%和64.7%,而PLFA PC2 不存在明显的空间依赖性.克立格空间插值图表明,样地中存在几处微生物相对密集分布且代谢活性较高的区域,其中优势微生物菌群是由PLFAs 16:1ω7t,cy17:0,18:1ω7 和cy19:0所表征的革兰氏阴性细菌.土壤中主要污染物多环芳烃含量和空间分布是影响微生物特性空间分布格局的重要因素之一.     

Determinants of Soil Microbial Communities: Effects of Agricultural Management, Season, and Soil Type on Phospholipid Fatty Acid Profiles

Abstract Phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) profiles were measured in soils from organic, low-input, and conventional farming systems that are part of the long term Sustainable Agriculture Farming Systems (SAFS) Project. The farming systems differ in whether their source of fertilizer is mineral or organic, and in whether a winter cover crop is grown. Sustained increases in microbial biomass resulting from high organic matter inputs have been observed in the organic and low-input systems. PLFA profiles were compared to ascertain whether previously observed changes in biomass were accompanied by a change in the composition of the microbial community. In addition, the relative importance of environmental variables on PLFA profiles was determined. Redundancy analysis ordination showed that PLFA profiles from organic and conventional systems were significantly different from April to July. On ordination plots, PLFA profiles from the low-input system fell between organic and conventional systems on most sample dates. A group of fatty acids (i14:0, a15:0, 16:1ω7c, 16:1ω5c, 14:0, and 18:2ω6c) was enriched in the organic plots throughout the sampling period, and another group (10Me16:0, 2OH 16:1 and 10Me17:0) was consistently lower in relative abundance in the organic system. In addition, another group (15:0, a17:0, i16:0, 17:0, and 10Me18:0) was enriched over the short term in the organic plots after compost incorporation. The relative importance of various environmental variables in governing the composition of microbial communities could be ranked in the order: soil type > time > specific farming operation (e.g., cover crop incorporation or sidedressing with mineral fertilizer) > management system > spatial variation in the field. Measures of the microbial community and soil properties (including microbial biomass carbon and nitrogen, substrate induced respiration, basal respiration, potentially mineralizable nitrogen, soil nitrate and ammonium, and soil moisture) were seldom associated with the variation in the PLFA profiles. Received: 3 February 1997; Accepted: 7 August 1997     

氮肥添加对高寒藏嵩草(Kobresia tibetica)沼泽化草甸和土壤微生物群落的影响

以藏嵩草沼泽化草甸为研究对象,利用磷脂脂肪酸(PLFA)技术,研究连续6年N素添加对地上植被群落数量特征、土壤微生物群落结构的影响。结果表明:①藏嵩草沼泽化草甸群落生物量、枯枝落叶对施肥处理无明显响应,且莎草科植物对土壤氮素的吸收和利用率较低。②施肥增加了0-10 cm土壤微生物类群PLFAs丰富度尤其细菌和革兰氏阳性菌PLFAs,降低了10-20 cm PLFAs丰富度;③磷脂脂肪酸饱和脂肪酸/单烯不饱和脂肪酸、细菌PLFAs/真菌PLFAs的比值随土壤层次增加而增加;④0-10 cm土层革兰氏阳性菌、真菌PLFAs含量与pH、土壤速效磷、速效氮、土壤有机质显著正相关(P0.05或P0.01);10-20 cm土层,细菌、革兰氏阳性菌、真菌和总PLFAs含量与土壤有机质含量显著正相关(P0.05或P0.01)。表明藏嵩草沼泽化草甸微生物PLFAs含量和丰富度对施肥的响应存在明显的土层梯度效应,土壤微生物PLFAs含量和丰富度主要受表层土壤初始养分含量的影响。     

Assessment of soil microbial diversity measurements as indicators of soil functioning in organic and conventional horticulture systems

Soil quality assessment is necessary to detect changes on soil properties among different management practices. Some microbial properties could be useful to predict changes in soil providing an integrated and relevant vision of soil functioning. The aim of this work was to evaluate and compare different methods to assess microbial diversity, such as methyl ester fatty acids (PLFA) and catabolic response profiles (CRP) to act as indicators of soil functioning. The study was carried out in an intensive horticulture production system. Undisturbed soil, 5 years plots, and more than 20 years plots under organic and conventional production were studied. Principal component analysis followed by multivariate discriminate analysis showed that d-glucose, d-glucosamine, α-ketobutyric, α-ketoglutaric and uric acids were the substrates with the highest sensitivity to separate situations. The same analysis was performed for PLFA, showing that C18:1w9, C13:0, C16:1w9, C14:0, i15:0 and cy19:0 methyl ester fatty acids were the most sensitive. Multivariate analysis of variance of selected substrates and fatty acids showed that CRP and PLFA techniques were both capable to characterize the studied systems. Saturated/monounsaturated (S/M), iso/anteiso (i/a) and cyclopropyl/precursors (cy/pre) microbial stress indicators were higher in plots under conventional management, presenting also these situations the lowest microbial biomass and fungi/bacteria ratio (F/B), especially in plots under conventional management for more than 20 years. Microbial functional diversity, calculated as evenness (E) from CRP was capable to distinguish between all situations and management systems showing the potential of this measurement to act as an integrative indicator of soil functioning.     

马尾松林土壤微生群落结构对不同营林处理的响应

以不同营林处理措施(对照、除灌、采伐1(15%)、采伐2(70%)后不同时期(处理后2个月,2013年12月;处理后15个月,2014年12月)三峡库区马尾松飞播林为研究对象,采用磷脂脂肪酸分析法对其土壤微生物生物量、微生物群落结构进行测定,同时比较了不同处理土壤理化性质特征,结果表明:1)处理后1年,除丛枝菌根真菌外,除灌、采伐1和采伐2微生物群落各类群生物量以及总生物量与对照相比均呈现减少的趋势,而在处理后初期并无规律性变化;2)主成分分析表明(PCA)不同处理措施在实施后初期并未对微生物群落结构产生显著影响,而在处理后1年,除灌和采伐1、采伐2的微生物群落结构显著区别于对照,且与土壤微生物群落多样性相关的2个主成分分别解释变量变化的50.40%和26.70%;3)2013年真菌生物标记(20:1 w9c)与主成分1极显著相关,而在2014年与主成分1极显著相关的生物标记物变为革兰氏阴性细菌(16:1w7c);4)冗余度分析表明,土壤湿度、土壤温湿度比值、土壤微生物熵(微生物量碳(MBC)/土壤有机碳(SOC))是影响不同时期微生物群落结构的显著环境因子(P0.05)。     

硬化地表对不同树种土壤微生物群落结构和功能的影响

城市硬化地表可减少土壤有机物输入,并改变土壤理化性质,由此可能影响土壤微生物群落结构和功能,但目前国内外相关研究较少。为研究不同树种下土壤微生物群落对硬化地表的响应,设置透水硬化地表(Pervious pavement, P)、不透水硬化地表(Impervious pavement, IP)和自然地表(Control, C)3个处理水平的地表类型,并栽种北方常见的常绿针叶树油松(pine,Pinus tabulaeformis)和落叶阔叶树白蜡(ash,Fraxinus chinensis)。采用氯仿熏蒸浸提法、磷脂脂肪酸法(PLFA)及BIOLOG培养法分别测定了土壤微生物量、群落结构和功能多样性。结果表明:(1)与自然地表(C)相比,硬化地表下土壤微生物生物量碳、氮含量显著降低(P0.05),土壤微生物群落组成和群落功能多样性发生了改变。透水和不透水硬化地表下土壤微生物细菌、真菌数量降低,真菌/细菌(fungi/bacteria, F/B)、cy/pre(环丙基脂肪酸/前体结构cyclopropyl fatty acid/monoenoic precursors)和sat/mono(一般饱和脂肪酸/单不饱和脂肪酸normal saturated fatty acid/monounsaturated fatty acid)等环境压力指标均显著升高(P0.05),且土壤微生物cy/pre值在不透水硬化地表下显著高于透水硬化地表下,表明不透水硬化地表下土壤环境压力更大;不透水硬化地表下土壤微生物对糖类、氨基酸类、羧酸类、胺类和聚合物的利用显著降低(P0.05),微生物群落功能丰富度及多样性指数显著降低(P0.05)。(2)土壤微生物群落结构和功能多样性在不同树种间存在一定差异。油松树下土壤微生物真菌、丛枝菌根真菌(arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, AMF)和F/B值在透水和不透水硬化地表下均显著降低(P0.05),而白蜡树下只在透水硬化地表下显著降低(P0.05);硬化地表使土壤微生物对糖类、氨基酸类和聚合物的利用强度在油松和白蜡树下表现出显著差异。硬化地表对土壤微生物的影响将进一步影响城市绿地的养分循环、树木生境和生态系统服务功能。     

Phospholipid Fatty Acid Composition and Heavy Metal Tolerance of Soil Microbial Communities along Two Heavy Metal-Polluted Gradients in Coniferous Forests

The effects of long-term heavy metal deposition on microbial community structure and the level of bacterial community tolerance were studied along two different gradients in Scandinavian coniferous forest soils. One was near the Harjavalta smelter in Finland, and one was at Ronnskar in Sweden. Phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) analysis revealed a gradual change in soil microbial communities along both pollution gradients, and most of the individual PLFAs changed similarly to metal pollution at both sites. The relative quantities of the PLFAs br18:0, br17:0, i16:0, and i16:1 increased with increasing heavy metal concentration, while those of 20:4 and 18:2(omega)6, which is a predominant PLFA in many fungi, decreased. The fungal part of the microbial biomass was found to be more sensitive to heavy metals. This resulted in a decreased fungal/bacterial biomass ratio along the pollution gradient towards the smelters. The thymidine incorporation technique was used to study the heavy metal tolerance of the bacteria. The bacterial community at the Harjavalta smelter, exposed mainly to Cu deposition, exhibited an increased tolerance to Cu but not to Cd, Ni, and Zn. At the Ronnskar smelter the deposition consisting of a mixture of metals increased the bacterial community tolerance to all tested metals. Both the PLFA pattern and the bacterial community tolerance were affected at lower soil metal concentrations than were bacterial counts and bacterial activities. At Harjavalta the increased Cu tolerance of the bacteria and the change in the PLFA pattern of the microbial community were found at the same soil Cu concentrations. This indicated that the altered PLFA pattern was at least partly due to an altered, more metal-tolerant bacterial community. At Ronnskar, where the PLFA data varied more, a correlation between bacterial community tolerance and an altered PLFA pattern was found up to 10 to 15 km from the smelter. Farther away changes in the PLFA pattern could not be explained by an increased community tolerance to metals.     

Priming effect after glucose amendment in two different soils evaluated by SIR- and PLFA-technique

This study investigated the metabolic and structural effects of adding glucose to the top soils of a contaminated sandy Eutric Cambisol and an uncontaminated silty Haplic Chernozem during substrate-induced respiration (SIR) measurement. We hypothesized that glucose amendment causes microbial community shifts. To indicate changes of the microbial structure during SIR measurement, we have evaluated the microbial community structure using phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) analysis on soil samples immediately before they were enclosed in SIR apparatus (Start), after the equilibrium of basal respiration had been reached (Con-0), 8 h later (Con-8), and on the other hand immediately after adding glucose (Glu-0), and 8 h after that (Glu-8).The accumulated PLFA content of Start, Con-0 and Con-8 was of the same order of magnitude with no significant differences among them in the contaminated sandy Eutric Cambisol. In contrast, PLFA-biomass of the Glu-0 sample was only 52% of that measured in the Start. Furthermore, the PLFA-biomass was reduced even more drastically to 20% compared to the original Start value in Glu-8. The reduction of PLFA-microbial biomass after glucose amendment was accompanied by the inverse reaction of basal respiration. The PLFA profiles were dominated by the group of saturated fatty acids in the case of Start, Con-0 and Con-8, but by unsaturated fatty acids in the Glu-0 and Glu-8. In contrast to these results, the uncontaminated silty Haplic Chernozem showed no significant differences between Start, Con-0 and Glu-0 but a 243% and a 274% higher PLFA content of Con-8 and Glu-8 compared to the Start, respectively.The findings of triggered metabolic activities indicate that the microflora of these soils is affected and that PLFA analysis reflects a shift in the soil microbial community after adding glucose. We hypothesized that this shift from slow-growing microbial oligotrophs with low substrate needs to fast-growing copiotrophs with high substrate demands might be caused by the glucose added. Structural differences of the microbial community before and after glucose amendment should be taken into consideration when interpreting the metabolic SIR results in future.     

Validation of signature polarlipid fatty acid biomarkers for alkane-utilizing bacteria in soils and subsurface aquifer materials

Abstract Extractable cell membrane-derived polarlipid ester-linked fatty acids (PLFA) obtained from aerated soils gassed with methane or propane and from methane- and propane-oxidizing bacteria isolated from the soils were analyzed by capillary gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. Exposure of aerated soils to methane resulted in the formation of a high proportion of an unusual 18-carbon mono-unsaturated PLFA, 18:lw8c. High proportions of this fatty acid biomarker are found in monocultures from this soil grown in minimal media with methane. This PLFA has been previously established as associated with authentic type II methane-oxidizing bacteria. The microbiota in aerated soils exposed to hydrocarbons containing propane, formed a suite of PLFA characterized by high proportions of a 16-carbon mono-unsaturated acid, 16:lw6c, and an 18-carbon saturated fatty acid with an additional methyl branch at the 10 position, 10 Me 18:0. This PLFA pattern has been detected in several monocultures enriched from the soil with propane-amended minimal media. The correspondence of high proportions of these unusual mono-unsaturated PLFA in the isolated monocultures and in situ in the soils after stimulation with the appropriate hydrocarbon is a strong validation of the utility of these biomarkers in defining the community structure of the surface soil microbial community.     

Root controls on soil microbial community structure in forest soils

We assessed microbial community composition as a function of altered above- and belowground inputs to soil in forest ecosystems of Oregon, Pennsylvania, and Hungary as part of a larger Detritus Input and Removal Treatment (DIRT) experiment. DIRT plots, which include root trenching, aboveground litter exclusion, and doubling of litter inputs, have been established in forested ecosystems in the US and Europe that vary with respect to dominant tree species, soil C content, N deposition rate, and soil type. This study used phospholipid fatty-acid (PLFA) analysis to examine changes in the soil microbial community size and composition in the mineral soil (0–10 cm) as a result of the DIRT treatments. At all sites, the PLFA profiles from the plots without roots were significantly different from all other treatments. PLFA analysis showed that the rootless plots generally contained larger quantities of actinomycete biomarkers and lower amounts of fungal biomarkers. At one of the sites in an old-growth coniferous forest, seasonal changes in PLFA profiles were also examined. Seasonal differences in soil microbial community composition were greater than treatment differences. Throughout the year, treatments without roots continued to have a different microbial community composition than the treatments with roots, although the specific PLFA biomarkers responsible for these differences varied by season. These data provide direct evidence that root C inputs exert a large control on microbial community composition in the three forested ecosystems studied.     

Effects of simulated exudate C:N stoichiometry on dynamics of carbon and microbial community composition in a subalpine coniferous forest of western Sichuan,China

 目前有关森林根系分泌物及其诱导的土壤生态学效应研究主要关注根系碳(C)源输入, 而极少关注根系分泌物氮(N)源输入及其伴随的C:N化学计量特征对土壤过程和功能的影响, 极大地限制了我们对森林根系-土壤-微生物互作机制的深入认识。该研究以川西亚高山天然林和云杉(Picea asperata)人工林土壤为对象, 模拟配制不同C:N化学计量特征(只有N、C:N = 10、C:N = 50、C:N = 100和只有C处理)的根系分泌物溶液进行人工添加试验, 以探究根系分泌物化学计量特征对两种林分土壤碳动态及其微生物群落结构的影响差异。结果表明: 模拟根系分泌物C添加总体促进了两种林分土壤有机质分解激发效应而降低了土壤总碳(TC)含量, 而N添加在一定程度上缓和了两种林分土壤TC含量的降低幅度, 且C添加导致天然林土壤TC含量的降低幅度明显低于土壤N有效性更低的人工林。几种根系分泌物添加处理对两种林分土壤活性和惰性碳库的影响无明显规律。另外, 根系分泌物C添加总体降低了天然林土壤微生物总磷脂脂肪酸(PLFA)含量和细菌、放线菌、真菌PLFA含量, 而总体增加人工林土壤微生物PLFA总量和细菌、放线菌、真菌PLFA含量, 并诱导两种林分土壤微生物群落结构(细菌:真菌相对丰度)也发生了各自不同的变化。上述结果表明森林根系分泌物N源输入和土壤N有效性共同调控根系C源输入对土壤有机质分解激发效应的方向和幅度。研究结果为深入揭示典型森林根系分泌物化学计量特征对土壤生物化学循环过程的调控机制提供了一定的理论依据。     

Effects of salinity on microbial tolerance to drying and rewetting

Soil salinity and fluctuations in soil matric potential are stressors for soil microorganisms which, in turn, may affect soil organic matter turnover. In response to salinity and low soil water content, many microorganisms accumulate osmolytes. Therefore, it is conceivable that microorganisms in saline soils are more tolerant to drying and rewetting (DRW) stress than those in non-saline soils. An experiment was carried out with three different salinity levels: electrical conductivity (EC_1:5) 0, 2 and 4 dS m^?1 (EC0, EC2, EC4), and two water treatments: a constantly moist control or two DRW cycles. Respiration as an indicator of microbial activity was measured throughout the 59 days of incubation. At the end of the second dry period (day 35) and at the end of the following moist incubation (day 59), microbial biomass and microbial community structure were determined by phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) analysis. Increasing salinity decreased microbial activity but did not affect its resistance to DRW. On day 59, cumulative respiration decreased in the order EC0 > EC2 > EC4 with no differences between water treatments. Fungal biomass was negatively affected by salinity at the end of the experiment, while bacterial biomass was unaffected. Microbial community structure in moist treatments differed between salinity levels, with EC4 influencing microbial community structure earlier than EC2. The resistance of microbial communities to DRW stress was salt level dependent; only beyond a critical salinity level adaptation to salt stress was able to reduce the impact of water stress on microbial community structure.     

施磷对干旱胁迫下箭竹根际土壤养分及微生物群落的影响

以箭竹及其根际土壤作为研究对象,采用两因素随机区组实验,设置2种水分处理（正常浇水和干旱胁迫）和2种施磷量处理（施磷和不施磷）,探究施磷对干旱胁迫下箭竹根际土壤养分及微生物群落结构和多样性的影响。结果表明：（1）干旱胁迫显著降低了箭竹根际土壤中微生物量碳、可溶性有机氮和有效磷的含量,虽对箭竹根际土壤微生物群落的多样性无显著影响,但显著降低了箭竹根际土壤中总PLFA（phospholipid fatty acid contents）的含量和真菌、细菌、革兰氏阳性菌与革兰氏阴性菌的PLFA含量以及革兰氏阳性菌/革兰氏阴性菌的PLFA比值,显著改变了箭竹根际土壤微生物群落结构,结果显著降低了箭竹的生物量。（2）施磷显著增加了受旱箭竹根际土壤中微生物量碳和有效磷的含量,虽大体上对受旱箭竹根际土壤微生物群落的多样性无显著影响,但显著增加了受旱箭竹根际土壤中总PLFA和真菌PLFA的含量,并在一定程度上增加了细菌、革兰氏阳性菌、革兰氏阴性菌和放线菌的PLFA含量以及革兰氏阳性菌/革兰氏阴性菌和真菌/细菌的PLFA比值,也在一定程度上改善了受旱箭竹根际土壤微生物群落结构,从而改善受旱箭竹的生长。（3）主成分分析表明,干旱对箭竹根际土壤微生物群落结构的影响显著,而施磷的影响不明显。（4）相关分析发现,箭竹根际土壤微生物群落结构与箭竹根际土壤微生物量碳、可溶性有机氮及箭竹生物量呈显著正相关。综上,干旱降低了箭竹根际土壤养分含量和微生物生物量,改变了箭竹根际土壤微生物群落结构,抑制了箭竹的生长;施磷能增加受旱箭竹根际土壤养分含量和微生物生物量,改善受旱箭竹根际土壤微生物群落结构,进而改善受旱箭竹的生长。