Open AccessIncreasing flooding frequency alters soil microbial communities and functions under laboratory conditions
Author(s) -
RandleBoggis Richard J.,
Ashton Peter D.,
Helgason Thorunn
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
microbiologyopen
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.881
H-Index - 36
ISSN - 2045-8827
DOI - 10.1002/mbo3.548
Subject(s) - archaea , microbial population biology , flooding (psychology) , methanogenesis , ecology , microorganism , cycling , nitrogen cycle , greenhouse gas , microbial ecology , environmental science , biology , environmental chemistry , bacteria , nitrogen , methane , chemistry , geography , psychology , genetics , archaeology , organic chemistry , psychotherapist
The impacts of increased flooding frequency on soil microbial communities and potential functions, in line with predicted environmental changes, were investigated in a laboratory‐controlled environment. More frequent flooding events altered microbial community composition and significantly increased the resolved species alpha‐diversity (Shannon index). The Bacteria:Archaea ratio was greater at the end of the experiment than at the start, more‐so after only one flood. Significant changes in taxa and functional gene abundances were identified and quantified. These include genes related to the reduction and oxidation of substances associated with anoxia, for example, those involved in nitrogen and sulfur cycling. No significant changes were observed in the methanogenesis pathway, another function associated with anoxia and which contributes to the emission of greenhouse gases.