Publication Details

Category Text Publication
Reference Category Journals
DOI 10.3389/fmicb.2016.02067
Title (Primary) Fine spatial scale variation of soil microbial communities under European beech and Norway spruce
Author Nacke, H.; Goldmann, K. ORCID logo ; Schöning, I.; Pfeiffer, B.; Kaiser, K.; Castillo-Villamizar, G.A.; Schrumpf, M.; Buscot, F.; Daniel, R.; Wubet, T. ORCID logo
Source Titel Frontiers in Microbiology
Year 2016
Department BOOEK; iDiv
Volume 7
Page From art. 2067
Language englisch
Keywords tree species; soil depth; horizontal distance from tree trunk; seasons; soil properties; soil microbial community structure; bacterial 16S rRNA gene; fungal ITS DNA
UFZ wide themes RU1
Abstract The complex interactions between trees and soil microbes in forests as well as their inherent seasonal and spatial variations are poorly understood. In this study, we analyzed the effects of major European tree species (Fagus sylvatica L. and Picea abies (L.) Karst) on soil bacterial and fungal communities. Mineral soil samples were collected from different depths (0–10, 10–20 cm) and at different horizontal distances from beech or spruce trunks (0.5, 1.5, 2.5, 3.5 m) in early summer and autumn. We assessed the composition of soil bacterial and fungal communities based on 16S rRNA gene and ITS DNA sequences. Community composition of bacteria and fungi was most strongly affected by soil pH and tree species. Different ectomycorrhizal fungi (e.g., Tylospora) known to establish mutualistic associations with plant roots showed a tree species preference. Moreover, bacterial and fungal community composition showed spatial and seasonal shifts in soil surrounding beech and spruce. The relative abundance of saprotrophic fungi was higher at a depth of 0–10 vs. 10–20 cm depth. This was presumably a result of changes in nutrient availability, as litter input and organic carbon content decreased with soil depth. Overall bacterial community composition showed strong variations under spruce with increasing distance from the tree trunks, which might be attributed in part to higher fine root biomass near spruce trunks. Furthermore, overall bacterial community composition was strongly affected by season under deciduous trees.
Persistent UFZ Identifier https://www.ufz.de/index.php?en=20939&ufzPublicationIdentifier=18286
Nacke, H., Goldmann, K., Schöning, I., Pfeiffer, B., Kaiser, K., Castillo-Villamizar, G.A., Schrumpf, M., Buscot, F., Daniel, R., Wubet, T. (2016):
Fine spatial scale variation of soil microbial communities under European beech and Norway spruce
Front. Microbiol. 7 , art. 2067