Open AccessDifferences in vegetation composition and plant species identity lead to only minor changes in soil‐borne microbial communities in a former arable field
Author(s) -
Kielak Anna,
Pijl Agata S.,
Van Veen Johannes A.,
Kowalchuk George A.
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
fems microbiology ecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.377
H-Index - 155
eISSN - 1574-6941
pISSN - 0168-6496
DOI - 10.1111/j.1574-6941.2007.00428.x
Subject(s) - rhizosphere , biology , acidobacteria , community structure , microbial population biology , ecology , temperature gradient gel electrophoresis , species diversity , botany , plant community , beta diversity , microbial ecology , vegetation (pathology) , biodiversity , ecological succession , bacteroidetes , 16s ribosomal rna , bacteria , medicine , genetics , pathology
To examine the relationship between plant species composition and microbial community diversity and structure, we carried out a molecular analysis of microbial community structure and diversity in two field experiments. In the first experiment, we examined bacterial community structure in bulk and rhizosphere soils in fields exposed to different plant diversity treatments, via a 16S rRNA gene clone library approach. Clear differences were observed between bacterial communities of the bulk soil and the rhizosphere, with the latter containing lower bacterial diversity. The second experiment focused on the influence of 12 different native grassland plant species on bacterial community size and structure in the rhizosphere, as well as the structure of Acidobacteria and Verrucomicrobia community structures. In general, bacterial and phylum‐specific quantitative PCR and PCR‐denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis revealed only weak influences of plant species on rhizosphere communities. Thus, although plants did exert an influence on microbial species composition and diversity, these interactions were not specific and selective enough to lead to major impacts of vegetation composition and plant species on below‐ground microbial communities.