Moderate changes in nutrient input alter tropical microbial and protist communities and belowground linkages.

ABSTRACT: We investigated the response of soil microbial communities in tropical ecosystems to increased nutrient deposition, such as predicted by anthropogenic change scenarios. Moderate amounts of nitrogen and phosphorus and their combination were added along an altitudinal transect. We expected microorganisms and microbial grazers (testate amoebae) to significantly respond to nutrient additions with the effect increasing with increasing altitude and with duration of nutrient additions. Further, we expected nutrients to alter grazer-prey interrelationships. Indeed, nutrient additions strongly altered microbial biomass (MB) and community structure as well as the community structure of testate amoebae. The response of microorganisms varied with both altitude and duration of nutrient addition. The re

SUBMITTER: Krashevska V 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3996688 | biostudies-literature | 2014 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature