Vegetation, topography, and soil depth drive microbial community structure in two Swedish grasslands

• DOI: 10.1093/femsec/fiad080
• Publication Date: 2023-07-21T07:39:41Z
• Authors: Daniela Guasconi; Jaanis Juhanson; Karina E Clemmensen; Sara A O Cousins; Gustaf Hugelius; Stefano Manzoni; Nina Roth; Petra Fransson
• Keywords: 2. Zero hunger; Sweden; Soil; 550; Bacteria; Microbiota; Fungi; Soil Science; 15. Life on land; Plants; Grassland; Soil Microbiology; Research Article

Abstract Soil microbial diversity and community composition are shaped by various factors linked to land management, topographic position, vegetation. To study the effects of these drivers, we characterized fungal bacterial communities from bulk soil at four depths ranging surface below rooting zone two Swedish grasslands with differing land-use histories, each including both an upper a lower catenary position. We hypothesized that differences in plant species richness functional group between sites would drive variation correlate diversity, biomass decrease depth following decline resource availability. While vegetation was identified as main driver composition, explained significantly higher for bacteria than fungi, differed more positions. Microbial derived DNA abundance decreased depth, but remained relatively stable, indicating diverse even zone. Finally, plant-microbial correlations were significant only specific groups, emphasizing importance interactions over general richness.