局域尺度麦田土壤微生物群落构建过程及其驱动因素

为探究局域尺度麦田土壤微生物群落构建过程，本研究采集河南省济源市小麦种植户麦田土壤，应用高通量测序技术，研究局域尺度下麦田土壤细菌群落结构、群落构建过程及其影响因素。结果表明：①土壤细菌群落中优势菌门是酸杆菌门（Acidobacteria）和变形菌门（Proteobacteria）。通过曼特尔检验以及冗余分析发现有机质和全氮对细菌群落结构影响显著（P<0.05）。②细菌分子生态网络中不同细菌类群之间以合作关系为主，关键物种来自拟杆菌门（Bacteroidetes）、酸杆菌门和变形菌门。③细菌群落在系统发育上聚类，有机质和有效磷对细菌群落系统发育影响显著（P<0.05）。④确定性过程和随机性过程在细菌群落构建中的贡献率分别为74.59%和25.41%。⑤曼特尔检验发现最近物种指数（βNTI）值与有机质、全氮、全磷含量变化呈显著正相关（P<0.05）。有机质、全氮、全磷含量差异的增大导致细菌群落从同质性选择以及均质扩散向异质性选择过程的转变。综上所述，本研究发现确定性过程在局域尺度麦田土壤细菌群落构建中占主导地位，土壤有机质、全氮、全磷是影响细菌群落构建的关键环境因素。有机质和全氮还对细菌群落结构有显著影响。本研究有利于对局域尺度下麦田生态系统土壤微生物多样性形成机制的认识。     

设施蔬菜土壤丛枝菌根真菌多样性及群落构建的季相变化

摘 要：为研究设施生态系统丛枝菌根（Arbuscular mycorrhiza, AM）真菌群落变化的关键驱动过程，采集设施番茄不同生长季（休耕、花期、果期）土壤样品，利用Illumina MiSeq高通量测序技术分析AM真菌物种和谱系多样性及群落结构变化特征，并结合群落谱系分析方法探讨不同生长季随机性过程和确定性过程之间的相对贡献。结果表明，不同生长季AM真菌的物种多样性和谱系多样性均发生显著改变：相比于休耕期，番茄生育期（花期、果期）土壤中AM真菌丰富度、Shannon多样性、Pielou均匀度、谱系多样性（PD）和平均成对谱系距离（MPD）分别显著下降了42.82%~59.18%、43.25%~48.31%、17.46%~25.40%、57.14%~67.86%和50.00%；除球囊霉属相对多度显著增加，近明球囊霉属和类球囊霉属相对多度均显著下降，原囊霉属相对多度先增加后降低。置换多元方差分析（PERMANOVA）和非度量多维度分析（NMDS）结果表明休耕期基于物种组成和谱系组成的AM真菌群落结构显著差别于番茄生育期，但花期和果期之间差异不显著。谱系分析结果显示，休耕期净亲缘关系指数NRI=0，表明AM真菌在谱系结构上是随机的，花期和果期NRI>0，表明谱系聚集，暗示了AM真菌群落构建由随机性过程主导向确定性过程主导的转变，中性群落模型（NCM）结果也支持该推断。Mantel检验结果显示，土壤pH、养分（有机碳、全量氮磷钾和有效磷）、盐分含量以及土壤温湿度作为确定性因素显著影响AM真菌群落的季相变化。综上所述，设施生态系统高集约化生产方式促进了AM真菌群落构建从随机性过程主导向确定性过程主导转变，导致多样性降低和群落结构变化，研究结果对揭示设施蔬菜栽培条件引起的土壤质量退化及其过程中的微生物组演变规律具有重要意义。     

秸秆覆盖旱作对稻田甲烷排放和水稻产量的影响

为较全面评价秸秆覆盖旱作水稻栽培模式的生态意义,采用田间试验研究了常规淹水（F）、秸秆覆盖旱作（NF-M）和无覆盖旱作（NF-ZM）3种栽培模式稻田甲烷排放、水稻产量及土壤养分的变化规律。结果表明：3种水稻栽培模式的甲烷排放均集中在水稻生育期的前20d;在水稻生育期内,秸秆覆盖旱作稻田甲烷的排放总量为11.12g·m^-2,显著高于常规淹水稻田的7.78g·m^-2和无覆盖旱作稻田的4.23g·m^-2。秸秆覆盖旱作稻田的水稻产量为8.60t·hm^-2,与常规淹水处理没有显著差异,但二者均显著高于无秸秆覆盖旱作处理的6.78t·hm^-2;与常规淹水处理相比,秸秆覆盖旱作还可以提高水稻单株生物量10g以上。秸秆覆盖旱作还可以显著提高稻田表层土壤有机质含量,维持和改善表层土壤养分状况,对实现农业可持续性有重要意义。因此,在水资源缺乏地区,秸秆覆盖旱作是一种值得考虑的替代传统淹水栽培的水稻栽培模式,同时秸秆覆盖旱作还田也是一种值得推广的稻田秸秆管理技术。     

典型水稻土细菌亚类群—泛化种、特化种的群落构建及功能潜力

泛化种和特化种对碳及养分等资源利用存在很大差异,在土壤能量和养分循环中发挥着独特功能。目前农田微生物研究主要针对整个细菌、真菌、古菌或其他功能群落,对农田生态系统细菌泛化种和特化种的认识还很缺乏。因此,为探究典型水稻土细菌泛化种和特化种的群落结构、驱动机制及在氮循环中的功能,根据第二次土壤普查数据,从我国东部（江苏、安徽、上海）和西南部（贵州、云南）采集16个土壤表层样品（0～20 cm）,进行理化性质测定和高通量测序,并对获得的数据进行相应的生态学分析。结果表明,在所有的OTUs中,3.28%被归为泛化种,9.07%被归为特化种。泛化种和特化种在门水平的分布模式不同,特化种在绿弯菌门（Chloroflexi）、放线菌门（Actinobacteria）、硝化螺旋菌门（Nitrospirae）、厚壁菌门（Firmicutes）和浮霉菌门（Planctomycetes）中所占的比例高于泛化种。基于β多样性零模型的群落构建分析表明,泛化种与特化种均由确定性过程主导,与特化种相比,泛化种受随机性过程的影响更大。驱动泛化种和特化种群落结构变异的环境因子不同,pH、年均降雨量、黏粒含量、全氮是驱动...     

干旱扰动下长期不同施肥潮土微生物群落稳定性研究

土壤微生物群落稳定性是土壤健康的重要组成部分和评价指标，揭示长期不同施肥的农田土壤微生物群落稳定性有助于指导田间施肥管理，保障农田生态系统的土壤健康和可持续发展。本研究依托中国科学院封丘农业生态实验站长期定位试验，通过对三种不同施肥处理的潮土进行干旱扰动和复水回复的培养试验，从多种微生物群落响应指标（脱氢酶活性、细菌群落alpha多样性、关键物种丰度、微生物群落结构和分子生态网络拓扑属性）分别量化和比较了不同施肥处理的微生物群落稳定性（抵抗力和回复力）。结果表明，与不施肥处理（CK）和平衡施用化肥处理（NPK）相比，有机无机肥配施处理（OM）能够显著增加微生物群落稳定性，表现在OM的微生物群落响应指标在干旱-复水过程中的变化最小，抵抗力与回复力均优于CK和NPK。复水后不同施肥处理的细菌群落alpha多样性、关键物种丰度和网络拓扑参数能够回复到初始水平，而群落结构和脱氢酶活性不能完全回复，说明细菌群落alpha多样性的回复快于群落结构和功能。本文基于多种微生物群落响应指标定量计算微生物群落的抵抗力和回复力，结果表明有机无机肥配施能显著提高微生物群落稳定性，是保障农田生态系统土壤健康和可持续发展的优良管理措施。     

多环芳烃胁迫下稻田土壤细菌及分支杆菌种群多样性研究

多环芳烃（PAHs）污染对土壤微生物群落特别是微生物功能群的影响一直备受关注。本文应用变性梯度凝胶电泳（DGGE）技术,从群落和功能群多样性两个角度,分析了PAHs胁迫条件下稻田土壤细菌遗传多样性及与PAHs降解有密切关系的分支杆菌种群多样性变化。结果表明,PAHs污染对稻田土壤细菌群落多样性指数无显著影响,但造成土壤细菌群落结构的改变,重度PAHs造成一些对污染敏感的细菌种类消失,而使一些与PAHs降解有关的细菌种类丰度增加。而对与多环芳烃降解有密切关系的分支杆菌而言,中度PAHs污染稻田土壤分支杆菌种群多样性指数较重度和轻度PAHs污染土壤的略高,不同PAHs污染程度稻田土壤的优势分支杆菌种类不尽相同,PAHs污染造成稻田土壤1种或几种分支杆菌得到富集。长期PAHs污染造成土壤细菌群落和分支杆菌种群结构的变化,将直接影响土壤生态系统功能的发挥,间接改变土壤质量。     

连续水旱轮作对水稻冷浸田土壤细菌群落结构的影响

利用高通量测序技术,采用单季稻-冬闲(CK)、油菜-水稻(R-R)、春玉米-水稻(C-R)、紫云英-水稻(M-R)和蚕豆-水稻(B-R)五个处理探究水旱轮作模式对水稻冷浸田土壤细菌群落结构的影响,同时分析了土壤理化因子与细菌群落结构的关系。结果表明:水旱轮作能够显著增加水稻产量18%~44%。与CK相比,绝大多数水旱轮作降低了土壤细菌的丰富度,而细菌多样性与CK处理无显著差异。变形菌门和酸杆菌门为土壤中的优势细菌类群,其中变形菌门的丰度最高。与CK相比,轮作后酸杆菌、放线菌、硝化螺旋菌、慢生根瘤菌和亚硝化螺菌等参与碳氮循环的菌群丰度明显增加。聚类分析表明CK和M-R轮作土壤细菌群落单独聚为一类,而B-R、C-R和R-R轮作土壤聚为另一类。冗余分析表明土壤全磷、有效磷和p H是影响水旱轮作土壤细菌群落结构的主要因子。     

长期施肥下我国农田土壤微生物及氨氧化菌研究进展

长期施用化肥和有机肥显著改变了我国土壤肥力和农田生态系统的稳定性。微生物在土壤养分循环和肥力形成过程中扮演了重要角色,其数量、多样性及群落结构是评价土壤肥力和农田生态系统稳定性的重要指标。随着研究土壤微生物的方法和技术的成熟,当前关于如何选择微生物学参数以有效评价土壤肥力及健康状况、土壤微生物对不同施肥管理措施的响应机制及功能微生物如何调控土壤养分循环等问题已成为土壤生态学中的研究热点。本文梳理了基于我国长期定位施肥农田的土壤微生物学研究进展,综合分析了土壤微生物生物量和酶活性、细菌群落及近些年倍受关注的氨氧化菌群落三方面的研究进展及发展方向,其中综合分析了构成细菌群落的八大门类菌群对施肥的响应及其驱动因素,最后从不同角度提出了微生物在土壤学及农业生产中的研究和应用方向。     

虾稻共作对稻田土壤线虫群落结构的影响

农业生态系统利用种间互惠将种植业与养殖业相结合,既能提高农作物产量,也能减少化肥农药等对环境的危害。本研究以土壤线虫作为指示生物,研究外来物种克氏原螯虾与水稻种养结合模式对稻田土壤生态系统的影响,为虾稻共作模式下稻田生态系统的健康和可持续利用提供依据。通过比较水稻单作和虾稻共作,分别在水稻分蘖期、抽穗期和成熟期采集土壤样品,分析土壤线虫群落结构。结果表明:与水稻单作相比,虾稻共作土壤中食细菌线虫的百分比较高(分蘖期增加了26.52%,抽穗期增加了19.85%,成熟期增加了32.65%),同时机会主义cp1线虫类群所占百分比较高(分蘖期增加了31.13%,抽穗期增加了24.91%,成熟期增加了19.49%),说明虾稻共作生态系统中农田土壤养分循环较快,土壤呈养分富集。但是,虾稻共作农田土壤中捕食杂食性线虫、cp3~5线虫类群百分比较低(P0.05),同时成熟度指数也显著低于水稻单作。因此,在克氏原螯虾的影响下,稻田土壤食物网趋于简化,土壤的生物稳定性有下降趋势,故需要进一步加强虾稻共作对稻田土壤健康长期影响的监测和研究。     

稻田水分管理和秸秆还田对甲烷排放的微生物影响

为了探讨不同水分管理和秸秆还田对稻田甲烷排放的影响机理,依托中国科学院亚热带农业生态研究所长沙农业环境监测研究站长期定位试验,选择长期淹水(CF)、秸秆还田+长期淹水(HS+CF)、常规灌溉(IF)、秸秆还田+常规灌溉(HS+IF)4个处理,应用限制性片段长度多态技术(T-RFLP)和实时荧光定量PCR技术在DNA和c DNA水平对比研究不同水分管理和秸秆还田影响稻田土壤甲烷排放的微生物分子机理。结果表明:长期淹水处理的甲烷排放量显著高于常规灌溉处理,秸秆还田处理对甲烷排放的影响不显著。产甲烷菌和甲烷氧化菌群落结构只对土壤水分管理产生响应,对秸秆还田没有响应。水分管理和秸秆还田显著影响产甲烷菌的数量,却对甲烷氧化菌数量没有影响。产甲烷菌和甲烷氧化菌群落组成和表达群落组成存在明显的分异,c DNA水平上产甲烷菌和甲烷氧化菌表达群落组成对水分管理的响应比DNA水平群落组成更敏感。稻田甲烷排放通量与mcr A和pmo A基因丰度和表达丰度均没有显著相关性,只与DNA水平基因丰度比值(mcr A/pmo A)呈显著正相关关系。可以看出,长期淹水处理可以通过改变土壤中产甲烷菌和甲烷氧化菌的群落结构和数量及两者数量的比例来调控甲烷的排放量。     

Stochasticity dominates assembly processes of soil nematode metacommunities on three Asian mountains

Nematodes play an important role in ecosystems; however, very little is known about their assembly processes and the factors influencing them. We studied nematode communities in bulk soils from three Asian mountain ecosystems to determine the assembly processes of free-living nematode metacommunities and their driving factors. On each mountain, elevations span a range of climatic conditions with the potential to reveal assembly processes that predominate across multiple biomes. A phylogenetic nu...     

1988―2019年中国农田表土有机碳库密度变化及其主要影响因素

  【目的】  研究中国农田土壤有机碳(SOC)密度时空变化特征及其主要驱动因素,为土壤肥力提升、固碳减排和粮食安全提供理论依据。  【方法】  基于1988至2019年农业农村部全国农田监测数据(1298个点位),分析水田、旱地和水旱轮作下SOC密度时空变化特征,利用方程拟合和提升回归树模型探究气候、施肥和土壤属性对SOC密度变化的影响。  【结果】  1988―2019年全国农田表层(0―20 cm) SOC密度平均为35.13 t/hm2,不同土地利用方式下表现为水田>水旱轮作>旱地,水田和水旱轮作较旱地分别高53.2%和24.9%。SOC密度随监测时间的延长呈先降低后增加的趋势,其中水田、旱地和水旱轮作分别在2000、1998和2004年之前呈下降趋势,之后呈上升趋势。不同利用方式水田SOC密度随监测时间的变化趋势在东北地区逐渐增加,华南地区逐渐降低,西南和长江中游地区则先降低后增加,转折点分别在1995和2002年;旱地SOC密度的变化趋势在西北、华北和华南地区逐渐增加,东北、长江中游和长江下游地区先降低后增加,转折点分别在2008、2004和2004年;水旱轮作下SOC密度的变化趋势在长江中游、下游地区先降低后增加,转折点分别在2001和2013年,在西南地区呈先上升后微弱下降趋势,转折点在2012年。提升回归树结果显示,水田SOC密度后期上升阶段最重要的解释变量在西南、东北和华南区是年均温,在长江中游和下游分别是钾肥用量和土壤速效钾含量;旱地SOC密度后期上升阶段最重要的解释变量在东北为年均温,华北和华南为年均降雨,长江中游、下游区为氮肥,西北为有效磷;水旱轮作SOC密度后期上升阶段最重要的解释变量,在西南、长江中、下游地区分别为年均降雨、有效磷、氮肥。  【结论】  1988―2019年全国农田表层SOC密度除华南水田外,整体上呈先降低后增加,水田、旱地和水旱轮作土壤的转折点分别在2000、1998和2004年,旱地SOC密度的提升快于水田和水旱轮作。影响表土SOC密度提升的主要因素,东北和西南地区水田和旱地为年均温,长江中、下游地区水田为钾肥投入和土壤速效钾含量,旱地为氮肥投入;华南地区水田为年均温,旱地为年降雨量;华北和西北地区旱地为年均降雨和土壤有效磷含量;西南和长江中游水旱轮作区为土壤有效磷含量,而长江下游为土壤速效钾含量。     

Status of paddy soils as affected by paddy rice and upland soybean rotation in northeast Japan,with special reference to nitrogen fertility

To investigate the current available nitrogen (N) and chemical properties of paddy soils affected by crop rotation between irrigated paddy rice (Oryza sativa L.) and upland soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] (paddy-upland rotation), topsoils were collected from 22 fields of four different farmers in the northeastern region of Japan. Regardless of organic material application, a significant negative correlation was found between available soil N and an increase in the proportions of upland seasons to total crop seasons after the initiation of paddy-upland rotation. Soil total N and total carbon (C) also tended to decrease with an increase in upland frequency. In fields with repeated applications of cattle manure compost, the soil available N was higher than in fields where only crop residue was applied. A significant negative correlation was also found between the soil available N:total N ratio and upland frequency. This indicates that the part of soil N related to available N was notably lost by the use of paddy fields as upland fields. In order to sustain available soil N over the minimum suitable level of 80?mg?kg^?1, upland frequency should not exceed 65% when only crop residues and no other organic materials are applied. The upland frequency can be raised by the repeated application of organic materials which maintain a higher level of available soil N. The results imply that care should be taken to maintain the N fertility of paddy soil at a suitable level in paddy-upland rotation, and that upland frequency and organic materials applied are important factors to do this.     

Microbial community responsible for the decomposition of rice straw in a paddy field: estimation by phospholipid fatty acid analysis

To estimate the microbial communities responsible for rice straw decomposition in paddy field, phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) composition of leaf sheaths and blades was analyzed during the decomposition of both residues under upland conditions after harvest and under flooded conditions at the time of transplanting of rice plants. In addition, rice straw that had been placed in the field under upland conditions (November to April) was taken out in spring, and placed again in the same field under flooded conditions at the time of transplanting. High proportions of the branched-chain PLFAs were observed under flooded conditions (June to September); the proportions of straight mono-unsaturated and straight poly-unsaturated PLFAs were high under upland conditions in the winter season for 4 months. The dominant PLFAs in straight mono-unsaturated, straight poly-unsaturated and branched-chain PLFA groups were 18:19, 18:17 and 16:17c, 18:26c and i15:0, i17:0 and ai15:0, respectively, under both upland and flooded conditions. These findings indicated the important roles of Gram-negative bacteria and fungi under upland conditions and of Gram-positive bacteria and anaerobic Gram-negative bacteria under flooded conditions. Cluster analysis of PLFA composition showed the difference of community structure of microbiota in rice straw between upland and flooded conditions. In addition principal component analysis revealed the difference between leaf sheaths and blades under upland conditions and indicated that the content of straight unsaturated PLFAs (sheaths > blades) characterized their community structures.     

Grazing effects on microbial community composition, growth and nutrient cycling in salt marsh and sand dune grasslands

The effect of grazing by large herbivores on the microbial community and the ecosystem functions they provide are relatively unknown in grassland systems. In this study, the impact of grazing upon the size, composition and activity of the soil microbial community was measured in field experiments in two coastal ecosystems: one salt marsh and one sand dune grassland. Bacterial, fungal and total microbial biomass were not systematically affected by grazing across ecosystems, although, within an ecosystem, differences could be detected. Fungal-to-bacterial ratio did not differ with grazing for either habitat. Redundancy analysis showed that soil moisture, bulk density and root biomass significantly explained the composition of phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) markers, dominated by the distinction between the two grassland habitats, but where the grazing effect could also be resolved. PLFA markers for Gram-positive bacteria were more proportionally abundant in un-grazed, and markers for Gram-negative bacteria in grazed grasslands. Bacterial growth rate (leucine incorporation) was highest in un-grazed salt marsh but did not vary with grazing intensity in the sand dune grassland. We conclude that grazing consistently affects the composition of the soil microbial community in semi-natural grasslands but that its influence is small (7 % of the total variation in PLFA composition), compared with differences between grassland types (89 %). The relatively small effect of grazing translated to small effects on measurements of soil microbial functions, including N and C mineralisation. This study is an early step toward assessing consequences of land-use change for global nutrient cycles driven by the microbial community.     

Increased rice yield in long-term crop rotation regimes through improved soil structure,rhizosphere microbial communities,and nutrient bioavailability in paddy soil

Soil in short-term crop rotation systems (STCR) is still in the initial development stage of farmland soil, whereas after long-term crop rotation treatment (LTCR), soil properties are significantly different. This study compares STCR (4 years) and LTCR (30 years) rice-rice-fallow, rice-rice-rape rotation practices under the same soil type background and management system. To reveal ecosystem mechanisms within soils and their effects on rice yield following LTCR, we analyzed the physical, chemical, and microbiological properties of soils with different rotations and rotation times. Relative to STCR, LTCR significantly reduced soil water-stable aggregate (WSA) content in the <?0.053-mm range, while >?2 mm WSA content significantly increased. Soil organic matter increased in fields under LTCR, mainly in >?2 mm, 2–0.25 mm, and <?0.053 mm soil WSA in 0–10 cm soil layer. LTCR was associated with significantly increased total soil organic matter, at the same time being associated with increasing the amount of active organic matter in the 0–20 cm soil layer. The two crop rotation regimes significantly differed in soil aggregate composition as well as in soil N and P, microbial biomass, and community composition. Relative to STCR, LTCR field soils had significantly higher soil organic matter, active organic matter content, soil enzyme activities, and overall microbial biomass, while soil WSA and microbial community composition was significantly different. Our results demonstrate that LTCR could significantly improve soil quality and rice yield and suggest that length of rotation time and rice-rice-rape rotation are critical factors for the development of green agriculture.     

水稻-番茄轮作植物寄生线虫及微生物群落结构差异

土壤线虫和微生物群落结构与作物健康密切相关。采用田间试验，利用传统分类和高通量测序技术，研究了水稻–番茄轮作(FS)、番茄连作(FF)和休耕(CK)3种种植制度土壤线虫及微生物群落结构差异。结果表明，水旱轮作土壤中线虫种类少，自由生活线虫占比高。土壤中植物寄生线虫属的检出率，轮作最少，仅有5个，连作最多，共13个，且大部分为常见属；水旱轮作同时能降低土壤中植物寄生线虫的种类，包括主要危害番茄的根结线虫属，占比仅2.1%，而连作为29.7%。不同种植制度下真菌和细菌类群OUTs和群落结构差异明显；与连作相比，轮作和休耕真菌、细菌种群丰富度更高，共享占比更多，群落构成更相近；水旱轮作Alpha多样性指数显著高于连作；轮作土壤中植物寄生线虫拮抗微生物类群Chaetomium,Talaromyces,Anaerolineaceae和Acidobacteria相对丰度高于连作。水稻–番茄轮作能大幅减少植物寄生线虫种类，增加微生物群落多样性，改善土壤质量，是番茄生产中防控线虫病害的理想措施。     

城乡复合生态系统土壤微生物群落特征及功能差异

土壤微生物在陆地生态系统多个过程中发挥着重要作用,而城市化过程使得城市及其周边地区土地利用发生剧烈变化,形成了异质性环境梯度,直接或间接地影响了土壤微生物群落的组成和功能,进而影响了其承载的生态系统服务。本文综述了城乡复合生态系统不同景观单元土壤微生物群落的组成特征、主要影响因素及其功能差异,发现城市化对土地利用的改变驱动了土壤微生物群落的组成、结构和功能差异,土地利用、土壤污染物、植被覆盖、土壤性质等因素共同影响土壤微生物群落,并且在不同景观中影响土壤微生物的主导因素有所不同。进一步探讨了土壤微生物的生态服务功能,并分析了不同景观中土壤微生物功能存在的差异性。今后需进一步解析社会—经济—自然复合生态系统格局特征对土壤微生物的影响,揭示城乡复合生态系统不同功能区土壤微生物对土壤生态服务的产生和维持机制,明确变化环境下土壤微生物对土壤安全和人类健康的维持机制,以提升土壤生态服务功能、维护城乡土壤安全和人居环境健康。     

Environmental similarity is more important than distance in the community structuring processes of ammonia-oxidizing archaea in agricultural soils

Ammonia-oxidizing archaea (AOA) are important in converting ammonia into nitrate in soils. While many aspects of their community structure have been studied, the relative importance of stochastic versus deterministic processes has poorly been understood. We compared AOA communities across the North China Plain, targeting the amoA gene. A phylogenetic null modelling approach was used to calculate the beta nearest taxon index to quantify the influence of stochastic and deterministic processes. We found that spatial distance between samples predicted the perceived processes involved in community structuring, with stochastic processes dominating at local scales. At greater distances, stochasticity became weaker. However, soil pH, which was also the strongest determinant of AOA community, was a much stronger predictor of community structuring, leaving the distance effect redundant as an explanation of community structuring processes. The communities of AOA differing by less than 1 pH unit differed mainly stochastically in terms of operational taxonomic unit composition. At larger pH differences, deterministic processes based on heterogeneous selection between clades became increasingly dominant. It appears that AOA community composition is largely determined by the environment. However, very similar pH environments are the exception. In environments with very close pH values, stochastic effects dominantly cause differences in community composition, whether spatially near or far.     

Contrasting biomass,dynamics and diversity of microbial community following the air-drying and rewetting of an upland and a paddy soil of the same type

We report a preliminary investigation into soil microbial biomass C, ATP, microbial community composition and gaseous emissions when an upland Chinese and an immediately adjacent paddy soil were incubated with increasing percentage water holding capacities (WHC) from 10% WHC to waterlogging for 10 days. The aim was to see what adaptations, if any, occur when a paddy soil is incubated under conditions of increasing soil moisture, from 10% WHC to waterlogging and an adjacent upland soil is subjected to the opposite moisture changes, from waterlogging to 10% WHC. The main differences were that soil ATP remained quite constant in the paddy soil, irrespective of the different WHCs while in the upland soil, it increased from a low level between 10 and 20% WHC to a maximum at 60% WHC declining to a similar low level as 10 and 20% when waterlogged. The most striking feature was that although there were significant changes in biomass C, ATP and biomass ATP concentrations, of up to 3-fold or more, due to changing soil moisture, the changes in relative abundance of the microbial community composition measured by gene sequencing, particularly for fungi, were small and often insignificant, especially between 40% WHC and waterlogging. There were significant changes in bacterial community composition between 10 and 40%, where 45 to 61% of bacteria responded to the change. However, the changes were very few between 40% WHC and waterlogging. Thus, there was no clear link between the large changes in microbial biomass and microbial community composition.