Structural and functional differentiation of bacterial communities in post-coal mining reclamation soils of South Africa: bioindicators of soil ecosystem restoration.

ABSTRACT: Soil microbial communities are suitable soil ecosystem health indicators due to their sensitivity to management practices and role in soil ecosystem processes. Presently, information on structural and functional differentiation of bacterial communities in post-coal mining reclamation soils of South Africa is sparse. Here, bacterial communities in three post-coal mining reclamation soils were investigated using community-level physiological profiling (CLPP), enzyme activities, and next-generation sequencing of 16S rRNA gene. Inferences were drawn in reference to adjacent unmined soils. CLPP-based species diversity and proportionality did not differ significantly (P > 0.05) whereas activities of β-glucosidase, urease and phosphatases were significantly (P < 0.05) influenced by site and soil

SUBMITTER: Ezeokoli OT 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7000389 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature