Biogeography and organic matter removal shape long-term effects of timber harvesting on forest soil microbial communities.

ABSTRACT: The growing demand for renewable, carbon-neutral materials and energy is leading to intensified forest land-use. The long-term ecological challenges associated with maintaining soil fertility in managed forests are not yet known, in part due to the complexity of soil microbial communities and the heterogeneity of forest soils. This study determined the long-term effects of timber harvesting, accompanied by varied organic matter (OM) removal, on bacterial and fungal soil populations in 11- to 17-year-old reforested coniferous plantations at 18 sites across North America. Analysis of highly replicated 16 S rRNA gene and ITS region pyrotag libraries and shotgun metagenomes demonstrated consistent changes in microbial communities in harvested plots that included the expansion of desiccation- a

SUBMITTER: Wilhelm RC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5649165 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature