Aerobic and microaerophilic actinomycetes of typical agropeat and peat soils

A high number (from tens of thousands to millions of CFU/g of soil) of actinomycetes and a high diversity of genera were found in typical peat and agropeat soils. Agricultural use increases the number and diversity of the actinomycete complexes of the peat soils. In the peat soils, the actinomycete complex is represented by eight genera: Streptomyces, Micromonospora, Streptosporangium, Actinomadura, Microbispora, Saccharopolyspora, Saccharomonospora, and Microtetraspora. A considerable share of sporangial forms in the actinomycete complex of the peat soils not characteristic of the zonal soils was revealed. The number of actinomycetes that develop under aerobic conditions is smaller by 10–100 times than that of aerobic forms in the peat soils. Among the soil actinomycetes of the genera Streptomyces, Micromonospora, Streptosporangium, Actinomadura, Microbispora, and Microtetraspora, the microaerophilic forms were found; among the Saccharopolyspora and Saccharomonospora, no microaerophilic representatives were revealed.     

Spatial Heterogeneity in the Properties of High-Moor Peat Soils under Local Pyrogenesis in Northeastern Sakhalin

The structure and properties of oligotrophic peat, oligotrophic peat gley, and pyrogenic oligotrophic peat soils identified on a plot 0.5 km² in area in the northeast of Sakhalin Island have been studied. The vertical distributions of physicochemical, chemical, and ecotoxicological parameters in the profiles of some bog soil groups have been considered. An increase in ash content, a less acid reaction, and a deficit of available nitrogen and potassium have been revealed in the upper horizons of pyrogenic soils. No accumulation of mobile heavy metals is manifested in the pyrogenic horizons of peat soils. Statistical parameters of the spatial variation in pH_KCl and total acidity, as well as the contents of ash, available phosphorus, exchangeable potassium, ammonium and nitrate nitrogen, mobile heavy metals (Cr, Ni, Cu, Zn, Cd, Pb), and benzo[a]pyrene, have been calculated for the moss and sublitter horizons. The variation coefficients are 30–100% for most of the studied parameters and reach 100–200% for available phosphorus; ammonium nitrogen; and mobile Ni, Cu, Zn, and Cd. An increase in the content of benzo[a]pyrene, although without MPC exceedance, is noted in the moss of pyrogenic soils and the peat horizons untouched by fires.     

Studies on the ecology of actinomycetes in soil—VIII: Distribution and characteristics of acidophilic actinomycetes

Acidophilic actinomycetes, growing between pH 3.5 and 6.5, were isolated from 17 natural soils and mine wastes. Most isolates were Streptomyces spp. and selected ones were compared with some established neutrophilic species by assessment of overall similarity. Acidophilic and neutrophilic strains clustered separately, differing in a number of cultural and physiological characters, in addition to pH requirements. The possible importance of acidophilic actinomycetes in soil is discussed.     

Population and biomass of microorganisms in soils of pyrogenic succession in the northern taiga pine forests

In the organic horizons of the Al-Fe-humus podzols under the old pine forests of the northern taiga, the biomass of all the groups of microorganisms, the length of the fungal and actinomycete mycelium, the number of fungal spores, and the bacterial population were maximal (13 mg/g) irrespectively of the stage of pyrogenic succession. The share of fungi (mainly, of basidiomycetes) exceeded 90%. In the mineral root-inhabited soil horizons, the biomass of microorganisms was not greater than 1.0 mg/g. The soil under the lichen pine forest had the smallest biomass of microorganisms as compared to the soil under the pine forests that were not exposed to fire for a long time. At all the stages of the pyrogenic succession, the most favorable conditions for the functioning of microorganisms were in the root-inhabited horizons of the soils in near-stem sites due to the accumulation of nutrients there. In the soils of these zones, the basidiomycete biomass was greater than that in the soils of the gaps. In the mineral soil horizons, buckleless micromycetes demonstrated the same trend. No distinct parcella differences, with respect to the soil nutrient regime, were found only for the prokaryotes. The fungi in the Al-Fe-humus podzols may be used as indicators for the pyrogenic succession stages of forest ecosystems. At the early stages, micromycetes without buckles prevailed, and, in the course of succession, the share of basidiomycetes clearly increased. The density and structure of mycorrhiza were tightly related to the nutrient regime of the soils. The increase in the concentration of available biogenic elements in the root-inhabited soil horizons did not cause the necessity of developing complex mycorrhiza forms.     

The influence of aeration and temperature on the structure of bacterial complexes in high-moor peat soil

The number and taxonomic structure of the heterotrophic block of aerobic and facultative anaerobic bacteria were studied in monoliths from a high-moor peat (stored at room temperature and in a refrigerator) and in the peat horizons mixed in laboratory vessels. The monitoring lasted for a year. In the T0 horizon, spirilla predominated at room and low temperatures; in the T1 and T2 horizons, bacilli were the dominants. The continuous mixing of the peat layers increased the oxygen concentration and the peat decomposition; hence, the shares of actinomycetes and bacilli (bacteria of the hydrolytic complex) increased. In the peat studied, the bacilli were in the active state; i.e., vegetative cells predominated, whose amount ranged from 65 to 90%. The representatives of the main species of bacilli (the facultative anaerobic forms prevailed) hydrolyzed starch, pectin, and carboxymethylcellulose. Thus, precisely sporiferous bacteria can actively participate in the decomposition of plant polysaccharides in high-moor peat soils that are characterized by low temperatures and an oxygen deficit. The development of actinomycetes is inhibited by low temperatures; they can develop only under elevated temperature and better aeration.     

Studies on the ecology of actinomycetes in soil II. The pH requirements of streptomycetes from two acid soils

The streptomycetes in the horizons of two pine forest soils were enumerated and isolated using neutral and acidified media. The pH requirements of all species isolated were tested in culture and two distinct groups, neutrophiles and acidophiles, were recognized. Growth of representative species at different pH in liquid medium and sterile soil was studied and found to be similar. The significance of the existence of both acidophilic and neutrophilic species in acid soils was discussed. It was suggested that acidophilic actinomycetes may be more widespread and important in soil than has been thought previously.     

Extremophilic and extremotolerant actinomycetes in different soil types

Problems on the resistance of soil actinomycetes to various environmental factors (pH, salinity, temperature, and moisture) are discussed. Actinomycetes as a special group of prokaryotes were revealed to have a greater range of tolerance to these factors than was thought earlier. The regularities of the distribution of extremophilic and extremotolerant actinomycetes developing in unusual for mycelial bacteria conditions, their structural-functional characteristics, and their taxonomic composition were determined. The predominance of acidophilic representatives of the Micromonospora genus in acid soils (typical peat, soddy-podzolic, and taiga podzol) and the haloalkaliphilic Streptomyces pluricilirescens and S. prunicolor species in desert saline soils are shown. The specific features of the actinomycete complexes on thermal fields of the weakly developed stratified volcanic soils are described. In these complexes, the thermophilic forms were represented only by species of the Micromonospora genus; and the mesophilic forms, by Microbispora species. In the periodically heated desert soils, among the thermophilic actinomycetes, representatives of rare Actinomadura, Saccharopolyspora and Streptosporangium genera along with Streptomyces species were indicated. The mechanisms of the resistance of the actinomycetes to the extreme environmental conditions are discussed.     

山药连作对土壤微生物群落及土壤酶活性的影响

以山药连作（0 a,1 a,2 a）和轮作（山药—小麦）土壤为研究对象,探讨耕作模式对山药种植地耕层土壤（0—30 cm）微生物数量和酶活性的影响。结果表明:土壤耕层的有机质、全氮、有效磷和速效钾含量随山药连作年限的延长而逐渐降低,而山药—小麦轮作模式则有助于恢复地力。山药连作、轮作的土壤均以细菌所占比例最大,放线菌次之,真菌最少;与对照（0 a）相比,细菌、放线菌数量均随着山药连作年限增加呈递减趋势;但放线菌的降幅明显大于细菌,表现出对连作年限更强的敏感性;真菌数量随连作年限呈先升后降的趋势。山药连作可以明显降低土壤脲酶、碱性磷酸酶和蔗糖酶的活性,轮作模式则可以激发该三种酶的活性,其中轮作较连作2 a的处理可以明显提高脲酶和蔗糖酶活性,差异分别达显著水平（p < 0.05）和极显著水平（p < 0.01）。说明山药连作会破坏土壤耕层微生物种群结构,并抑制土壤酶活性,轮作可以在一定程度上改善土壤微生物群落结构及酶活性质量。     

Structural-functional specificity of the complexes of psychrotolerant soil actinomycetes

The active growth and development of psychrotolerant actinomycetes take place in peat and podzolic soils of the tundra and taiga at temperatures below 10°C. The population density of psychrotolerant mycelial prokaryotes in these soils reaches thousands and tens of thousands of CFU/g of soil, and the length of their mycelium is up to 380 m/g of soil. The application of fluorescent in situ hybridization (the FISH method) demonstrated that the metabolically active psychrotolerant representatives of the phylogenetic group of Actinobacteria comprise up to 30% of the total number of bacteria in prokaryotic microbial communities of oligotrophic peat bog and podzolic soils. The portion of metabolically active mycelial actinobacteria exceeds the portion of unicellular actinobacteria. Psychrotolerant streptomycetes isolated from peat bog soils possess pectinolytic, amylolytic, and antagonistic activities at low temperatures (5°C).     

Taxa-specific changes in soil microbial community composition induced by pyrogenic carbon amendments

The effects of pyrogenic carbon on the microbial diversity of forest soils were examined by comparing two soil types, fire-impacted and non-impacted, that were incubated with laboratory-generated biochars. Molecular and culture-dependent analyses of the biochar-treated forest soils revealed shifts in the relative abundance and diversity of key taxa upon the addition of biochars, which were dependent on biochar and soil type. Specifically, there was an overall loss of microbial diversity in all soils treated with oak and grass-derived biochar as detected by automated ribosomal intergenic spacer analysis. Although the overall diversity decreased upon biochar amendments, there were increases in specific taxa during biochar-amended incubation. DNA sequencing of these taxa revealed an increase in the relative abundance of bacteria within the phyla Actinobacteria and Gemmatimonadetes in biochar-treated soils. Together, these results reveal a pronounced impact of pyrogenic carbon on soil microbial community composition and an enrichment of key taxa within the parent soil microbial community.     

Moderately haloalkaliphilic actinomycetes in salt-affected soils

It was found that the population density of actinomycetes in solonchaks and saline desert soils varied from hundreds to tens of thousands of colony-forming units (CFUs) per 1 g of soil depending on soil type and was by 1–3 orders of magnitude lower than the number of mycelial bacteria in main soil types. Actinomycetes grow actively in saline soils, and the length of their mycelium reaches 140 m per 1 g of soil. Domination of moderately halophilic, alkaliphilic, and haloalkaliphilic actinomycetes, which grow well under 5% NaCl and pH 8–9, is a specific feature of actinomycetal complexes in saline soils. Representatives of Streptomyces and Micromonospora genera were found among the haloalkaliphilic actinomycetes. Micromonospores demonstrated lower (than streptomycetes) adaptability to high salt concentrations. Investigation of the phylogenetic position of isolated dominant haloalkaliphilic strains of streptomycetes performed on the basis of sequencing of the gene 16S rRNA enabled identifying these strains as Streptomyces pluricolorescens and S. prunicolor.     

The importance of mycological studies for soil quality control

Published and original data obtained in the course of long-term studies of mycobiota of several soil types in regions with different pollution levels and composition of the pollutants (Tver, Moscow, and Samara oblasts; West Siberia; and the Komi Republic) are analyzed. The expediency of using mycological characteristics for soil quality control and estimation of the toxic impact on the environment is discussed. The most pollutant-sensitive mycological characteristics were determined for the following soils: oligotrophic peat gley, eutrophic peat, whitish podzolic, Al-Fe-humus podzol, soddy pale podzolic, soddy-podzolic, and brown forest soils. These are (a) the structure of the fungal biomass, (b) the taxonomic diversity of the fungi, and (c) the percentage of melanized forms of micromycetes. At the same time, the total number of fungi (in colony-forming units) and the indices of the richness of individual species and genera proved to be poorly informative for assessing the ecological status of the soils. Criteria for the choice of mycobiotic parameters suitable for scaling the soil ecological quality are suggested.     

Application of the Succession Approach in Studying the Prokaryotic Community in Soils of East Antarctica

Prokaryotic communities of soils in oases of East Antarctica were studied at a model experiment with application of the succession approach. The total number of prokaryotes and filtered forms of prokaryotes, as well as the taxonomical diversity of the saprotrophic bacterial complex, were determined in two soil samples differing in organic matter content at temperatures of 5 and 20°C. We fixed the maximum total number of bacteria on the 14th day and the minimum number on the 1st and 160th (the end of the experiment) days in all variants. The amount and percentage of filtered forms of prokaryotes were the highest at the start of the experiment and the smallest on the 14th day. It is assumed that revival of Antarctica soils by humidification and incubation at temperatures above zero favors activation of dormant cells and their transition to viable status. Filtered forms of prokaryotes can be assigned to the pool of cells, which makes it possible to preserve bacteria at extremely low temperatures and without available water and nutrients. The succession approach enables more complete characterization of the taxonomic diversity of the saprotrophic bacterial complex and isolation of a wider genera of gram-negative bacteria than with a single inoculation of soil kept frozen. So it can be recommended for studying the prokaryotic community of Antarctica soils in model experiments.     

Characterization of vegetation and soils of rehabilitated sandy wastelands at the Usinsk oilfields (the Komi Republic)

The soils and phytocenoses developed over 13 years after four procedures of rehabilitation of sandy wastelands in the area of Usinsk oilfields (the northernmost taiga) are characterized. The planting of pine seedlings and especially the sowing of perennial grasses, along with the improvement of the substrate by application of peat and fertilizers, were the most efficient rehabilitation technologies as compared to the planting of only willow cuttings or 7-to 19-year-old pine wildings. On the plots where grasses were sown and pine seedlings were planted, the plant communities were at the preclimax succession stage (small-leaved tree species and shrubs) before the regeneration of the coniferous forest. The input of abundant plant residues have led to the formation of weakly developed soils with higher contents of organic carbon and hydrolyzable nitrogen as compared to their concentrations in the initial substrate. However, they were much lower as compared with the reference peaty-podzolic iron-illuvial soil. In the upper horizons of the weakly developed soils, the number of colony-forming units of bacteria and fungi and the mycobiota diversity were close to those in the reference soil, but the activity of the microbiological processes remained substantially lower in these horizons.     

铅锌矿区重金属污染对微生物数量及放线菌群落结构的影响

采集四川省汉源县富泉乡万顺铅锌矿区5个不同重金属浓度的土壤样品,进行了微生物数量及放线菌多样性的研究。经分离、纯化得到43株不同的放线菌,然后对其进行BOXAIR-PCR和16SrDNAPCR-RFLP分析。结果表明,铅锌矿区重金属复合污染对土壤微生物数量有较大的影响,随着铅锌矿区重金属污染程度的加剧,土壤微生物的总数下降。相关性分析表明,重金属含量与细菌数量呈极显著负相关（P〈0.01）,与放线菌数量、真菌数量呈显著负相关（P〈0.05）。供试菌株的16SrDNA用HaeⅢ、HinfⅠ和TaqⅠ酶切后具有32种遗传图谱类型。BOXAIR-PCR的聚类结果表明在86%的水平上,所有菌株分为10个遗传类型,结果基本与16SrDNAPCR-RFLP聚类差异不大。来源于高重金属的含量样品的菌株基本聚在一起,可能是重金属含量影响了放线菌的分布。同时,16SrDNA序列聚类分析结合系统发育树分析表明链霉菌属是汉源铅锌矿区主要的放线菌属并且具有遗传多样性。     

Spatial variation of peat soil properties in the oil-producing region of northeastern Sakhalin

Morphology and properties of medium-deep oligotrophic peat, oligotrophic peat gley, pyrogenic oligotrophic peat gley, and peat gley soils on subshrub-cotton grass-sphagnum bogs and in swampy larch forests of northeastern Sakhalin have been studied. Variation in the thickness and reserves of litters in the studied bog and forest biogeocenoses has been analyzed. The profile distribution and spatial variability of moisture, density, ash, and pH_KCl in separate groups of peat soils have been described. The content and spatial variability of petroleum hydrocarbons have been considered in relation to the accumulation of natural bitumoids by peat soils and the technogenic pressing in the oil-producing region. Variation of each parameter at different distances (10, 50, and 1000 m) has been estimated using a hierarchical sampling scheme. The spatial conjugation of soil parameters has been studied by factor analysis using the principal components method and Spearman correlation coefficients. Regression equations have been proposed to describe relationships of ash content with soil density and content of petroleum hydrocarbons in peat horizons.     

Microbial destruction of chitin in different soils

Chitinolytic prokaryotic and eukaryotic complexes were studied in the course of succession initiated by an introduction of chitin and moistening of the soil. An increase in the number and biomass of chitinolytic microorganisms and stronger carbon dioxide emission were observed in the experimental variants with chitin as compared with the control without chitin. The increase was recorded for the prokaryotes (actinomycetes and bacteria) and not due to the eukaryotes in the course of the succession initiated by chitin. It was first found that the chitinolytic actinomycetal complex in an ordinary chernozem has a specific taxonomic structure. The representatives of the Streptosporangium genus were the dominating actinomycetes in the chitinolytic complex.     

The problem of fire control on drained peatlands and its solution

Fires on drained peatlands arise as a result of lowering of the groundwater table and the rupture of its capillary fringe from the peat soil horizons. Fires destroy the most fertile soils of the nonchernozemic region, adversely affect the diversity and species composition of the biota and the work of transport, and cause diseases and the death of people. A set of preventive measures against fires on the drained peatlands is proposed. It is important to use these soils only for meadow grass cultivation with rotations enriched in perennial grasses. No cases of “black” crop growing are possible on peatlands. The reclamation of peat soils should be implemented only with the bilateral regulation of the water regime. An optimal system of increasing the fertility of drained peat soils should be applied; their use should also be accompanied by sanding.     

Bacterial diversity and community structure along different peat soils in boreal forest

Bacteria in peat forest soil play important role in global carbon cycling. The distribution of bacteria population in different peat soils as a whole and how forest management practices alter the bacterial populations are still poorly known. Using pyrosequencing analysis of 16S rRNA gene, we quantified the diversity and community structure of bacteria in eight peat forest soils (pristine and drained) and two mineral forest soils from Lakkasuo, Finland with either spruce-dominant or pine-dominant tree species. In total, 191,229 sequences which ranged from 15,710 to 22,730 per sample were obtained and affiliated to 13 phyla, 30 classes and 155 genera. The peat forest soils showed high bacterial diversity and species richness. The tree species seems to have more strong impact on the bacterial diversity than the type of peat soil, which drives the changes in bacterial community structure. The dominant taxonomic groups across all soils (>1% of all sequences) were Proteobacteria, Acidobacteria, Actinobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Planctomycetes and Verrucomicrobia. The relative abundance of bacteria phylum and genus differed between soil types and between vegetation. Significant differences in relative abundance of bacteria phyla were only found for Gemmatimonadetes and Cyanobacteria between the pristine and the drained peat forest soils. At genus level, the relative abundance of several genera differed significantly between the peat soils with same or different tree species, including Burkholderia, Caulobacter, Opitutus, Mucilanginibacter, Acidocella, Mycobacterium, Bradyrhizobium, Dyella and Rhodanobacter.     

Soil hydrology and CO2 release of peat soils

A simple model to predict soil water components and the CO₂ release for peat soils is presented. It can be used to determine plant water uptake and the CO₂ release as a result of peat mineralization for different types of peat soils, various climate conditions, and groundwater levels. The model considers the thickness of the root zone, its hydraulic characteristics (pF, Ku), the groundwater depth and a soil‐specific function to predict the CO₂ release as a result of peat mineralization. The latter is a mathematical function considering soil temperature and soil matric potential. It is based on measurements from soil cores at varying temperatures and soil water contents using a respiricond equipment. Data was analyzed using nonlinear multiple regression analysis. As a result, CO₂ release equations were gained and incorporated into a soil water simulation model. Groundwater lysimeter measurements were used for model calibration of soil water components, CO₂ release was adapted according long‐term lysimeter data of Mundel (1976). Peat soils have a negative water balance for groundwater depth conditions up to 80—100 cm below surface. Results demonstrate the necessity of a high soil water content i.e. shallow groundwater to avoid peat mineralization and soil degradation. CO₂ losses increase with the thickness of the rooted soil zone and decreases with the degree of soil degradation. Especially the combination of deep groundwater level and high water balance deficits during the vegetation period leads to tremendous CO₂ losses.