Effects of Habitat Differences on Microbial Communities during Litter Decomposing in a Subtropical Forest

Forests

Ling Zhu¹  Hongrong Guo¹  Wentao Wei¹  Fuzhong Wu¹  Xiaoyue Zhang¹  Ruobing Wu¹  Dingyi Wang¹ 

[1]Key Laboratory for Humid Subtropical Eco-Geographical Processes of the Ministry of Education, School of Geographical Sciences, Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou 350007, China

关键词: leaf litter decomposition;    habitat types;    microbial community;    phospholipid fatty acids (PLFAs);    individual PLFA;   

DOI  :  10.3390/f13060919

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

The differences between aquatic and terrestrial habitats could change microbial community composition and regulate litter decomposition in a subtropical forest, but the linkage remains uncertain. Using microbial phospholipid fatty acids (PLFAs), the litter decomposition associated with microbial organisms was monitored to characterize the differences of microbial communities in the forest floor, headwater stream, and intermittent stream. Habitat type did not significantly affect the concentrations of total PLFA. However, microbial community composition (fungi, G+ bacteria, and eukaryote) was significantly affected by the microenvironment among habitats. Compared with which in headwater stream, more individual PLFAs were identified in the natural forest floor and the intermittent stream during the whole decomposition period. The differences in individual PLFA concentrations were reflected in the forest floor and aquatic system in the early stage of litter decomposition, but they mainly reflected in the headwater stream and the intermittent stream in the later stage of litter decomposition. We linked the relationships between microbial community and litter decomposition and found that communities of decomposers drive differences in litter decomposition rate among habitats. Intriguingly, the microbial community showed the greatest correlation with the decomposition rate of litter in streams. These findings could contribute to the understanding of habitats difference on the microbial community during litter decomposition.

【 授权许可】

Unknown