Contrasting diversity patterns of crenarchaeal, bacterial and fungal soil communities in an alpine landscape.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The advent of molecular techniques in microbial ecology has aroused interest in gaining an understanding about the spatial distribution of regional pools of soil microbes and the main drivers responsible of these spatial patterns. Here, we assessed the distribution of crenarcheal, bacterial and fungal communities in an alpine landscape displaying high turnover in plant species over short distances. Our aim is to determine the relative contribution of plant species composition, environmental conditions, and geographic isolation on microbial community distribution.

Methodology/principal findings

Eleven types of habitats that best represent the landscape heterogeneity were investigated. Crenarchaeal, bacterial and fungal communities were described by means of Single

SUBMITTER: Zinger L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3093402 | biostudies-literature | 2011 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature