Changes in soil microbial communities during litter decomposition

doi:10.17520/biods.2015149

Abstract

Abstract:

Litter decomposition is an important ecosystem function, and is an indispensable process for carbon and nutrient cycling. Litter decomposition is influenced by many factors, especially soil microbial communities, which are subject to their corresponding plant communities. It is necessary to study changes in soil microbial communities during litter decomposition and how these changes respond to plant diversity in corresponding forest communities to understand the mechanisms of decomposition. In the present study, we investigated these changes and responses using a litter bag method. Our results showed: (1) After 183 days of litter bag placement, microbial diversity decreased, and there was a negative correlation between plant species diversity and microbial diversity; (2) Soil microbial communities varied before and after the placement of plant litter bags. In particular the PLFAs of fungi and bacteria after the placement of litter bags were much higher than those before the placement of litter bags; (3) Topography was the most important factor correlated with the soil microbial community, and explained 29.55% of the variation of microbial communities. In contrast, litter quality and plant diversity explained 15.39% and 8.45%, respectively, and the interaction of the three factors explained 2.97% of the variation of the microbial communities. In conclusion, we find plant diversity plays a less important role than topography in determining soil microbial diversity, and litter quality influences soil microbial communities during litter decomposition.

http://jtp.cnki.net/bilingual/detail/html/SWDY201602009

Key words: microbial community, topographic factor, litter decomposition rate, phospholipid fatty acids

Shanshan Li, Zhengwen Wang, Junjie Yang. Changes in soil microbial communities during litter decomposition[J]. Biodiv Sci, 2016, 24(2): 195-204.

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URL: https://www.biodiversity-science.net/EN/10.17520/biods.2015149

https://www.biodiversity-science.net/EN/Y2016/V24/I2/195

Figures/Tables 6

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物种多样性 Species diversity	遗传多样性 Genetic diversity
物种多样性 Species diversity	单家系 One seed family	4家系 Four seed families
单物种 One species	单物种单家系 Mono-species & mono-family (S1G1) 32重复32 replicates	单物种4家系 Mono-species & tetra-family (S1G4) 8重复 Eight replicates
4物种 Four species	4物种单家系Tetra-species & mono-family (S4G1) 8重复 Eight replicates	4物种4家系Tetra-species & tetra-family (S4G4) 6重复Six replicates

物种多样性 Species diversity	遗传多样性 Genetic diversity
物种多样性 Species diversity	单家系 One seed family	4家系 Four seed families
单物种 One species	单物种单家系 Mono-species & mono-family (S1G1) 32重复32 replicates	单物种4家系 Mono-species & tetra-family (S1G4) 8重复 Eight replicates
4物种 Four species	4物种单家系Tetra-species & mono-family (S4G1) 8重复 Eight replicates	4物种4家系Tetra-species & tetra-family (S4G4) 6重复Six replicates

物种 Species	家系 Seed family	总碳 Total carbon (mg/g)	总氮 Total nitrogen (mg/g)	总磷 Total phosphorus (mg/g)	碳/氮比 C/N	氮/磷比 N/P
香樟 C. camphora	C3	492.25 ± 27.01^a	12.36 ± 1.78^ab	0.97 ± 0.02^a	40.59 ± 8.16^ab	12.79 ± 2.07^b
	C4	505.41 ± 33.39^a	13.24 ± 0.21^a	0.70 ± 0.06^b	38.19 ± 2.91^b	19.11 ± 1.80^a
	C7	510.94 ± 23.82^a	11.09 ± 0.27^ab	0.76 ± 0.02^b	46.05 ± 1.12^ab	14.68 ± 0.13^b
	C9	477.45 ± 63.22^a	9.86 ± 0.19^b	0.70 ± 0.01^b	48.44 ± 6.44^a	13.99 ± 0.23^b
虎皮楠 D. oldhamii	D6	522.14 ± 17.30^a	10.83 ± 0.89^b	0.86 ± 0.12^a	48.52 ± 5.33^a	12.77 ± 1.60^b
	D12	533.19 ± 1.66^a	11.46 ± 2.80^ab	0.87 ± 0.03^a	48.25 ± 10.6^a	13.19 ± 2.97^b
	D13	527.37 ± 31.32^a	13.89 ± 0.65^a	0.80 ± 0.02^a	38.06 ± 3.36^a	17.37 ± 0.36^a
	D17	510.40 ± 23.74^a	12.74 ± 0.95^a	0.71 ± 0.01^b	40.27 ± 4.55^a	18.02 ± 1.06^a

物种 Species	家系 Seed family	总碳 Total carbon (mg/g)	总氮 Total nitrogen (mg/g)	总磷 Total phosphorus (mg/g)	碳/氮比 C/N	氮/磷比 N/P
香樟 C. camphora	C3	492.25 ± 27.01^a	12.36 ± 1.78^ab	0.97 ± 0.02^a	40.59 ± 8.16^ab	12.79 ± 2.07^b
	C4	505.41 ± 33.39^a	13.24 ± 0.21^a	0.70 ± 0.06^b	38.19 ± 2.91^b	19.11 ± 1.80^a
	C7	510.94 ± 23.82^a	11.09 ± 0.27^ab	0.76 ± 0.02^b	46.05 ± 1.12^ab	14.68 ± 0.13^b
	C9	477.45 ± 63.22^a	9.86 ± 0.19^b	0.70 ± 0.01^b	48.44 ± 6.44^a	13.99 ± 0.23^b
虎皮楠 D. oldhamii	D6	522.14 ± 17.30^a	10.83 ± 0.89^b	0.86 ± 0.12^a	48.52 ± 5.33^a	12.77 ± 1.60^b
	D12	533.19 ± 1.66^a	11.46 ± 2.80^ab	0.87 ± 0.03^a	48.25 ± 10.6^a	13.19 ± 2.97^b
	D13	527.37 ± 31.32^a	13.89 ± 0.65^a	0.80 ± 0.02^a	38.06 ± 3.36^a	17.37 ± 0.36^a
	D17	510.40 ± 23.74^a	12.74 ± 0.95^a	0.71 ± 0.01^b	40.27 ± 4.55^a	18.02 ± 1.06^a

凋落物的基质质量 Litter quality	总脂肪酸含量 Total PLFAs
凋落物的基质质量 Litter quality	d.f.	F	P
初始碳含量(总碳) Initial carbon (IC)	1	0.039
初始氮含量(总氮) Initial nitrogen (IN)	1	10.232	< 0.01
初始磷含量(总磷) Initial phosphorus (IP)	1	14.669	< 0.01
IC/IN	1	0.572
IC/IP	1	0.434
IN/IP	1	1.362
IC/IN/IP	1	4.489	< 0.05