Groundwater Depth Overrides Tree-Species Effects on the Structure of Soil Microbial Communities Involved in Nitrogen Cycling in Plantation Forests

Wu, Tiehang; Gray, Ashley; Liu, Gan; Kaminski, Hilary; Osi Efa, Bolanle; Aubrey, Doug P.

doi:10.3390/f11030275

Groundwater Depth Overrides Tree-Species Effects on the Structure of Soil Microbial Communities Involved in Nitrogen Cycling in Plantation Forests

Journal Article · Thu Feb 27 23:00:00 EST 2020 · Forests

DOI:https://doi.org/10.3390/f11030275· OSTI ID:1799591

Wu, Tiehang ^[1]; Gray, Ashley ^[2]; Liu, Gan ^[2]; Kaminski, Hilary ^[2]; Osi Efa, Bolanle ^[2]; Aubrey, Doug P. ^[3]

Georgia Southern Univ., Statesboro, GA (United States). Dept. of Biology; OSTI
Georgia Southern Univ., Statesboro, GA (United States). Dept. of Biology
Savannah River Site (SRS), Aiken, SC (United States). Savannah River Ecology Lab. (SREL); Univ. of Georgia, Athens, GA (United States). Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources

Microbial communities found in soil ecosystems play important roles in decomposing organic materials and recycling nutrients. A clear understanding on how biotic and abiotic factors influence the microbial community and its functional role in ecosystems is fundamental to terrestrial biogeochemistry and plant production. The purpose of this study was to investigate microbial communities and functional genes involved in nitrogen cycling as a function of groundwater depth (deep and shallow), tree species (pine and eucalypt), and season (spring and fall). Soil fungal, bacterial, and archaeal communities were determined by length heterogeneity polymerase chain reaction (LH-PCR). Soil ammonia oxidation archaeal (AOA) amoA gene, ammonia oxidation bacterial (AOB) amoA gene, nitrite oxidoreductase nrxA gene, and denitrifying bacterial narG, nirK, nirS, and nosZ genes were further studied using PCR and denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE). Soil fungal and bacterial communities remained similar between tree species and groundwater depths, respectively, regardless of season. Soil archaeal communities remained similar between tree species but differed between groundwater depths in the spring only. Archaeal amoA for nitrification and bacterial nirK and nosZ genes for denitrification were detected in DGGE, whereas bacterial amoA and nrxA for nitrification and bacterial narG and nirS genes for denitrification were undetectable. The detected nitrification and denitrification communities varied significantly with groundwater depth. There was no significant difference of nitrifying archaeal amoA or denitrifying nirK communities between different tree species regardless of season. The seasonal difference in microbial communities and functional genes involved in nitrogen cycling suggests microorganisms exhibit seasonal dynamics that likely impact relative rates of nitrification and denitrification.

View Accepted Manuscript (DOE)

Research Organization:: Univ. of Georgia, Athens, GA (United States); USDA Forest Service, Savannah River, New Ellenton, SC (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE Office of Environmental Management (EM)

Grant/Contract Number:: EM0004391; EM0003622

OSTI ID:: 1799591

Journal Information:: Forests, Journal Name: Forests Journal Issue: 3 Vol. 11; ISSN 1999-4907

Publisher:: MDPICopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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Groundwater Depth Overrides Tree-Species Effects on the Structure of Soil Microbial Communities Involved in Nitrogen Cycling in Plantation Forests

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