Effect of experimental soil disturbance and recovery on structure and function of soil community: a metagenomic and metagenetic approach.

ABSTRACT: There has been little study of effects of disturbance on soil biota combining closely controlled experimental conditions and DNA-based methods. We sampled pots of soil at varying times following an initial simulated mass mortality event. Soil DNA was extracted at intervals up to 24 weeks after the event, and shotgun metagenomes sequenced using NextSeq. Compared to initial conditions, we found: consistent, sequential changes in functional metagenome and community structure over time, indicating successional niche differentiation amongst soil biota. As predicted, early successional systems had greater abundance of genes associated with motility, but fewer genes relating to DNA/RNA/protein metabolism, cell division and cell cycle. Contrary to predictions, there were no significant differences

SUBMITTER: Choi S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5442152 | biostudies-literature | 2017 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature