Do temperate tree species diversity and identity influence soil microbial community function and composition?

ABSTRACT: Studies of biodiversity-ecosystem function in treed ecosystems have generally focused on aboveground functions. This study investigates intertrophic links between tree diversity and soil microbial community function and composition. We examined how microbial communities in surface mineral soil responded to experimental gradients of tree species richness (SR), functional diversity (FD), community-weighted mean trait value (CWM), and tree identity. The site was a 4-year-old common garden experiment near Montreal, Canada, consisting of deciduous and evergreen tree species mixtures. Microbial community composition, community-level physiological profiles, and respiration were evaluated using phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) analysis and the MicroResp^™ system, respectively. The relation

SUBMITTER: Khlifa R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5632628 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature