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Scientia Silvae Sinicae ›› 2014, Vol. 50 ›› Issue (9): 161-166.doi: 10.11707/j.1001-7488.20140922

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Variation of Soil Microbial Community along Elevation in the Shennongjia Mountain

Zhang Yuguang1, Su Xiujiang2, Cong Jing1 3, Chen Zhan1, Lu Hui1, Liu Minchao4, Li Diqiang1   

  1. 1. Key Laboratory of Forest Ecology and Environment of State Forestry Administration Institute of Forestry Ecology, Environment and Protection, CAF Beijing 100091;
    2. Hunan Baiyunshan National Nature Reserve Administration Baojing 416500;
    3. School of Mineral Processing and Bioengineering, Central South University Changsha 410083;
    4. School of Chemical and Environmental Engimeering, Wuyi University Jiangmen 529020
  • Received:2013-07-16 Revised:2014-08-04 Online:2014-09-25 Published:2014-09-30

Abstract:

To understand the microbial community, structure and its elevational patterns, four plant types at different elevations in Shennongjia Mountain, including deciduous broadleaved forest, subalpine coniferous forest, coniferous-broadleaved mixed forest, and subalpine bush, were selected to analyze the soil microbial community structure by phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) technique. The results showed that a total 24 PLFAs were detected in the soil and the content of total microbial PLFA, bacterial PLFA, fungi PLFA, actinomycete PLFA, and G+ and G- bacterial PLFA in the soil all exhibited a single peak of distribution pattern along altitude. The PLFA content was highest in coniferous-broadleaved mixed forest soil, and lowest in subalpine bush soil. The significant difference (P<0.05) in PLFA content in the soil was detected among subalpine coniferous forest, coniferous-broadleaved mixed forest and subalpine bush soils. Principal component analysis showed the four plant types had obviously different microbial community structure. Pearson relationship and canonical correspondence analysis indicated that the plant Shannon-Wiener index and the soil pH were significantly correlated (P< 0.01) with the soil microbial PLFA content. Thus, plant diversity and soil pH may be the important factors in shaping the microbial elevation patterns.

Key words: elevation gradient, soil microbial community, Shennongjia Mountain, phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA), distribution pattern

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