Effects of Tree Composition and Soil Depth on Structure and Functionality of Belowground Microbial Communities in Temperate European Forests.

ABSTRACT: Depending on their tree species composition, forests recruit different soil microbial communities. Likewise, the vertical nutrient gradient along soil profiles impacts these communities and their activities. In forest soils, bacteria and fungi commonly compete, coexist, and interact, which is challenging for understanding the complex mechanisms behind microbial structuring. Using amplicon sequencing, we analyzed bacterial and fungal diversity in relation to forest composition and soil depth. Moreover, employing random forest models, we identified microbial indicator taxa of forest plots composed of either deciduous or evergreen trees, or their mixtures, as well as of three soil depths. We expected that forest composition and soil depth affect bacterial and fungal diversity and community st

SUBMITTER: Prada-Salcedo LD 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9328770 | biostudies-literature | 2022

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature