Land use and climatic factors structure regional patterns in soil microbial communities.

ABSTRACT:

Aim

Although patterns are emerging for macroorganisms, we have limited understanding of the factors determining soil microbial community composition and productivity at large spatial extents. The overall objective of this study was to discern the drivers of microbial community composition at the extent of biogeographical provinces and regions. We hypothesized that factors associated with land use and climate would drive soil microbial community composition and biomass.

Location

Great Basin Province, Desert Province and California Floristic Province, California, USA.

Methods

Using phospholipid fatty acid analysis, we compared microbial communities across eight land-use types sampled throughout the State of California, USA (n = 1117).

Results

The main fact

SUBMITTER: Drenovsky RE 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3891896 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature