Publication Details

Category Text Publication
Reference Category Journals
DOI 10.1038/srep36672
Title (Primary) Tree species, tree genotypes and tree genotypic diversity levels affect microbe-mediated soil ecosystem functions in a subtropical forest
Author Purahong, W.; Durka, W. ORCID logo ; Fischer, M.; Dommert, S.; Schöps, R.; Buscot, F.; Wubet, T. ORCID logo
Source Titel Scientific Reports
Year 2016
Department BZF; BOOEK; iDiv
Volume 6
Page From art. 36672
Language englisch
Keywords Forest ecology; Tropical ecology
UFZ wide themes RU1
Abstract Tree species identity and tree genotypes contribute to the shaping of soil microbial communities. However, knowledge about how these two factors influence soil ecosystem functions is still lacking. Furthermore, in forest ecosystems tree genotypes co-occur and interact with each other, thus the effects of tree genotypic diversity on soil ecosystem functions merit attention. Here we investigated the effects of tree species, tree genotypes and genotypic diversity levels, alongside soil physicochemical properties, on the overall and specific soil enzyme activity patterns. Our results indicate that tree species identity, tree genotypes and genotypic diversity level have significant influences on overall and specific soil enzyme activity patterns. These three factors influence soil enzyme patterns partly through effects on soil physicochemical properties and substrate quality. Variance partitioning showed that tree species identity, genotypic diversity level, pH and water content all together explained ~30% variations in the overall patterns of soil enzymes. However, we also found that the responses of soil ecosystem functions to tree genotypes and genotypic diversity are complex, being dependent on tree species identity and controlled by multiple factors. Our study highlights the important of inter- and intra-specific variations in tree species in shaping soil ecosystem functions in a subtropical forest.
Persistent UFZ Identifier https://www.ufz.de/index.php?en=20939&ufzPublicationIdentifier=18072
Purahong, W., Durka, W., Fischer, M., Dommert, S., Schöps, R., Buscot, F., Wubet, T. (2016):
Tree species, tree genotypes and tree genotypic diversity levels affect microbe-mediated soil ecosystem functions in a subtropical forest
Sci. Rep. 6 , art. 36672 10.1038/srep36672