Plant Invasions Associated with Change in Root-Zone Microbial Community Structure and Diversity

• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0141424
• Publication Date: 2015-10-27T18:40:58Z
• Authors: Richard R. Rodrigues; Rosana P. Pineda; Jacob N. Barney; Erik T. Nilsen; John E. Barrett; Mark A. Williams
• Keywords: Acidobacteria; Phylogenetic diversity

The importance of plant-microbe associations for the invasion plant species have not been often tested under field conditions. research sought to determine patterns change in microbial communities associated with establishment invasive plants different taxonomic and phenetic traits. Three independent locations Virginia, USA were selected. One site was invaded by a grass (Microstegium vimineum), another shrub (Rhamnus davurica), third tree (Ailanthus altissima). native vegetation from these sites used as reference. 16S rRNA ITS regions sequenced study root-zone bacterial fungal communities, respectively, non-invaded samples analyzed using Quantitative Insights Into Microbial Ecology (QIIME). Though community structure initially differed across locations, shifted similar ways. Indicator analysis revealed that Operational Taxonomic Units (OTUs) closely related Proteobacteria, Acidobacteria, Actinobacteria, Ascomycota increased abundance due invasions. Hyphomonadaceae family Rhodobacterales order ammonia-oxidizing Nitrospirae phylum showed greater relative soils. Hyphomicrobiaceae, within phyla Proteobacteria result invasion, but effect most strongly root-zones M. vimineum R. davurica. Functional Phylogenetic Investigation Communities Reconstruction Unobserved States (PICRUSt) bacteria responsible nitrogen cycling soil association invasion. In agreement phylogenetic functional analyses, turnover ammonium nitrate Overall, changed congruently invaders, support hypothesis functions are important factors Whether changes driven direct interactions or plant-driven properties remains be determined.