Nitrogen fertilization reduces diversity and alters community structure of active fungi in boreal ecosystems

Nitrogen (N) availability is increasing in many ecosystems due to anthropogenic disturbance. We used a nucleotide analog technique and sequencing of ribosomal RNA genes to test whether N fertilization altered active fungal communities in two boreal ecosystems. In decaying litter from a recently burned spruce forest, Shannon diversity decreased significantly with N fertilization, and taxonomic richness declined from 44 to 33 operational taxonomic units (OTUs). In soils from a mature spruce forest, richness also declined with N fertilization, from 67 to 52 OTUs. Fungal community structure in litter differed significantly with N fertilization, primarily because fungi of the order Ceratobasidiales increased in abundance. We observed similar changes in fungal diversity and community structure with starch addition to litter, suggesting that N fertilization may affect fungal communities by altering plant carbon inputs. These changes could have important consequences for ecosystem processes such as decomposition and nutrient mineralization.     

Differences in the activity and bacterial community structure of drained grassland and forest peat soils

The microbial activity and bacterial community structure were investigated in two types of peat soil in a temperate marsh. The first, a drained grassland fen soil, has a neutral pH with partially degraded peat in the upper oxic soil horizons (16% soil organic carbon). The second, a bog soil, was sampled in a swampy forest and has a very high soil organic carbon content (45%), a low pH (4.5), and has occasional anoxic conditions in the upper soil horizons due to the high water table level. The microbial activity in the two soils was measured as the basal and substrate-induced respiration (SIR). Unexpectedly, the SIR (μl CO₂ g⁻¹ dry soil) was higher in the bog than in the fen soil, but lower when CO₂ production was expressed per volume of soil. This may be explained by the notable difference in the bulk densities of the two soils. The bacterial communities were assessed by terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism (T-RFLP) profiling of 16S rRNA genes and indicated differences between the two soils. The differences were determined by the soil characteristics rather than the season in which the soil was sampled. The 16S rRNA gene libraries, constructed from the two soils, revealed high proportions of sequences assigned to the Acidobacteria phylum. Each library contained a distinct set of phylogenetic subgroups of this important group of bacteria.     

Logging residue harvest may decrease enzymatic activity of boreal forest soils

Nowadays conventional stem-only harvest where logging residues are left on the site is often displaced by whole-tree harvest, in which logging residues are harvested for use as bioenergy. Logging residues consist of tree branches and tops of stems with needles. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of logging residue harvest on soil enzyme activities involved in C, N and P cycling, namely β-glucosidase, β-glucosaminidase, protease and acid phosphatase in relation to other soil characteristics (i.e. soil respiration, net N mineralization, microbial biomass C and N). Soil samples were taken from the humus layer of five study sites, differing in fertility, dominating tree species and time elapsed after treatment. The study sites were Norway spruce (Picea abies, (L.) Karst) and Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) stands in different parts of Finland. Four of the study sites were single-tree experiments, where thinning was performed 4–5 years before this study and 3–4 different doses of logging residues (from 0 up to 37.5 Mg ha⁻¹) were distributed on a circle around a single tree in 3 replicates. The last field experiment had been thinned twice, 23 and 13 years ago; the treatments in 3 replicates were whole-tree harvest and stem-only harvest. In the whole-tree harvest vs. stem-only harvest experiment, activities of β-glucosidase, β-glucosaminidase, acid phosphatase were similar in both treatments. In general, in the single-tree experiment with pine, enzymes raised the activity in response to increasing amount of logging residue. The pattern was less clear for the spruce single-tree experiment, but acid phosphatase and protease activities increased with the increase in amount of logging residue. In general, other soil characteristics were less affected than enzyme activities by logging residue removal; however, in some sites logging residues seemed to increase net C and N mineralization with increasing logging residue amount. Our results suggest that retaining logging residues on the site can increase soil enzyme activities and C and N mineralization.     

A single application of Cu to field soil has long-term effects on bacterial community structure, diversity, and soil processes

Long-term diversity-disturbance responses of soil bacterial communities to copper were determined from field-soils (Spalding; South Australia) exposed to Cu in doses ranging from 0 through to 4012 mg Cu kg⁻¹ soil. Nearly 6 years after application of Cu, the structure of the total bacterial community showed change over the Cu gradient (PCR-DGGE profiling). 16S rRNA clone libraries, generated from unexposed and exposed (1003 mg Cu added kg⁻¹ soil) treatments, had significantly different taxa composition. In particular, Acidobacteria were abundant in unexposed soil but were nearly absent from the Cu-exposed sample (P<0.05), which was dominated by Firmicute bacteria (P<0.05). Analysis of community profiles of Acidobacteria, Bacillus, Pseudomonas and Sphingomonas showed significant changes in structural composition with increasing soil Cu. The diversity (Simpsons index) of the Acidobacteria community was more sensitive to increasing concentrations of CaCl-extractable soil Cu (Cu_Ext) than other groups, with decline in diversity occurring at 0.13 Cu_Ext mg kg⁻¹ soil. In contrast, diversity in the Bacillus community increased until 10.4 Cu_Ext mg kg⁻¹ soil, showing that this group was 2 orders of magnitude more resistant to Cu than Acidobacteria. Sphingomonas was the most resistant to Cu; however, this group along with Pseudomonas represented only a small percentage of total soil bacteria. Changes in bacterial community structure, but not diversity, were concomitant with a decrease in catabolic function (BioLog). Reduction in function followed a dose-response pattern with Cu_Ext levels (R²=0.86). The EC₅₀ for functional loss was 0.21 Cu_Ext mg kg⁻¹ soil, which coincided with loss of Acidobacteria diversity. The microbial responses were confirmed as being due to Cu and not shifts in soil pH (from use of CuSO₄) as parallel Zn-based field plots (ZnSO₄) were dissimilar. Changes in the diversity of most bacterial groups with soil Cu followed a unimodal response - i.e. diversity initially increased with Cu addition until a critical value was reached, whereupon it sharply decreased. These responses are indicative of the intermediate-disturbance-hypothesis, a macroecological theory that has not been widely tested in environmental microbial ecosystems.     

Potential activities of enzymes involved in N,C, P and S cycling in boreal forest soil under different tree species

The aim of this study was to compare the potential activity of enzymes involved in N, C, P and S cycling in the humus layer under three tree species: silver birch, Norway spruce and Scots pine. For arylsulphatase and protease the highest activities were found under birch, whereas beta-glucosidase activity was highest under pine. Beta-glucosaminidase and acid phosphatase showed similar activities regardless of tree species. Our studies show that soils under these species may differ enzymatically from each other. Enzyme activity studies under different tree species need more attention as the activity of different enzymes influences on soil nutrient availability in boreal forest soil.     

Determinants of litter mixing effects in a Swedish boreal forest

When the litter of a given species decomposes, it will often break down in the proximity of litters from other species. We investigated the effects of litters of 10 different species in a boreal forest of northern Sweden on each others' decomposition and N release rates; this was done through the use of litterbags containing two compartments separated by single mesh partition. Different litters could be placed on opposite sides of this mesh so that they were in contact with each other. Treatments consisted of all the possible pairwise combinations of the 10 species, with members of each pair placed in different compartments of the same litterbag. Litterbags were harvested after 1, 2 and 4 years in the field. Species differed significantly in their effects on decomposition and N loss rates of associated litters. Generally, litters from feather mosses and lichens showed the greatest promotion of decomposition on associated litters, while some vascular plant species, notably Empetrum hermaphroditum, showed the least. At year four, feather mosses also had the greatest positive effects on N loss from the litters of associated species. There were several instances in which litter of a given species decomposed at different rate when litter from its own species, rather than that of a different species, was placed in the adjacent litterbag compartment. This was particularly apparent in the second year, when across the entire data set, litters decomposed fastest when associated with their own litters. Generally, slowly decomposing litters had the greatest positive effects on decomposition of associated litters. It is proposed that in boreal forests slow decomposing litters (particularly those of feather mosses) may contribute to enhancing moisture attention in the litter layer, which in turn promotes the decomposition and N release of associated litters. Further, while litter mixing effects were clearly demonstrated in our study, they were also shown to be of secondary importance to the effects of species identity on decomposition.     

设施种植模式对土壤细菌多样性及群落结构的影响

为了研究有机和常规设施种植模式及轮作对土壤细菌多样性和群落结构的影响,本研究采用Illumina平台Hiseq 2500高通量测序技术,于2016年6月(作物处于收获期)对北京市顺义区不同设施种植模式(分别为有机设施种植模式和常规设施种植模式下的叶菜连作、茄果连作和叶茄轮作)下土壤细菌进行16S r RNA测序。测序质控后共获得17 278个操作分类单元(operational taxonomic units,OTUs),共计318 851条有效序列。比较不同种植模式和轮作下土壤细菌多样性、细菌群落结构组成、相对丰度及土壤理化性质与细菌群落多样性关系的差异性。结果表明:土壤微生物群落结构在有机和常规设施种植模式下差异明显,有机设施种植土壤细菌多样性高于常规设施种植;有机设施种植下轮作与连作土壤细菌群落结构表现出明显差异,而常规设施种植下,两者没有明显差异;有机种植模式下,轮作土壤细菌群落多样性高于连作土壤;设施种植土壤细菌群落主要属于鞘氨醇单胞菌属(Sphingomonas,5.05%)和芽孢杆菌属(Bacillus,4.84%),相对丰度大于0.5%的共有14个属。有机设施种植土壤含有较多促进植物生长、有机质分解的细菌,常规设施种植土壤中降解化学杀虫剂、防治土壤病害、促进硝化过程的细菌较多。RDA分析结果显示土壤细菌群落主要受全磷、速效磷、有机质的影响。Tumebacillus、Candidatus Solibacter和Acidothermus都是分解有机质、利用碳源的细菌属,与土壤有机质含量呈正相关关系。由此可见,设施条件下,有机和常规种植土壤微生物群落结构的差异性主要源于肥料使用、有害生物防治措施和管理方式的不同。有机设施种植模式下,轮作更有利于发挥其改良土壤营养循环和防治土壤病虫害的作用。上述结果为在微生物水平上研究设施条件下不同种植模式的土壤生态质量差异提供了参考。     

Monoterpenes and higher terpenes may inhibit enzyme activities in boreal forest soil

Plant secondary compounds, including terpenes, potentially play an important role in controlling the decomposition process in boreal forest soil. However, the role of terpenes is not well understood, and their direct influence on enzyme activity is not well-known. The aim of this study was to examine the possible effects of common monoterpenes and higher terpenes on the activity of enzymes crucial in C, N, P, S cycling, i.e. β-glucosidase, chitinase, protease, acid phosphatase and arylsulfatase. Monoterpenes (α-pinene, carene, myrcene), diterpenes (abietic acid and colophony), and triterpene (β-sitosterol) were used. Studies were done in two environments, in vitro (studies without soil) and in vivo (studies with soil). Soil experiments were conducted using humus layers of two different birch stands, the first N-poor with high organic matter content and the second N-rich with a lower organic matter content. In general, all the terpenes studied showed inhibitory potential against enzymes in in vitro studies. In the soil incubation studies, both of the measured enzymes, chitinase and β-glucosidase, showed some decrease in activity when exposed to different terpenes. Our study suggests that terpenes modify the enzyme machinery in boreal forest soil.     

Areal activities and stratification of hydrolytic enzymes involved in the biochemical cycles of carbon, nitrogen, sulphur and phosphorus in podsolized boreal forest soils

A novel approach allowing on-site high throughput enzyme activity measurements by fluorogenic model substrates was applied to study the functioning of enzymes involved in biochemical cycling of nutrients in boreal forest soil ecosystems. The examined enzymes comprised α-glucosidase, β-glucosidase, β-xylosidase, β-cellobiosidase, N-acetyl-glucosamidase, acetate-esterase, butyrate-esterase, phosphomonoesterase, sulphatase and aminopeptidase, whereby spatial and seasonal variation of their activity was investigated over nine seasons in 2 years. The studied sites of boreal podzolized soil of Pinus sylvestris and Picea abies forest were located in central Finland. Activity of all enzymes except sulphatase was highest in the humus layer in all seasons. Maximum sulphatase activity was located below the humus layer in the soil column. Annual activities of acetate-esterase, butyrate-esterase, β-glucosidase and phosphomonosterase calculated to in situ temperature during the year were 480-700, 690-950, 110-190 and 110-200 mol m⁻² year⁻¹, respectively. They were up to 100 fold higher than the other six measured activities. The overall turnover capacity of the enzymes was >1000 mol of ester linked carbon, >700 mols carbon from different carbohydrates, 100-200 mol of ester linked phosphate, 10-40 mol of ester linked sulphate m⁻² year⁻¹. Winter time (November-April) contributed from 7 to 32% to the annual turnover capacity indicating important enzyme activities also during a cold period of the year. Clear-cutting of the tree stand did not adversely affect enzyme activities related to the cycling of carbon, nitrogen, sulphur and phosphorus during the year. The pH optimum for hemicellulose and cellulose hydrolysing enzymes was pH 3-4 and the pH optimum of phosphomonoesterase, sulphatase, aminopeptidase and N-acetyl-glucosamidase was 4-5. This shows that the hydrolytic activities were adapted to the acid pH-values of the soils. The soil hydrolytic potential was many fold higher as compared to the actual amount of litter it received in the P. sylvestris and P. abies forests.     

Rearrangement of bacterial community structure during peat diagenesis

The relationship between microbial diagenesis of Sphagnum peat (SP) and reed-sedge peat (RSP) and the spatial organization of peat bacterial communities was studied. Peats were aerobically incubated at 18-22 °C for 4 months. Changes in molecular composition of peat organic matter were monitored with solid-state ¹³C NMR, and the respective amount of functional groups was determined by integration of corresponding peaks. No abiotic peat transformation was detected. SP diagenesis caused about a 4% loss of parent materials with a similar yield of ketones, phenols, aromatic, and carbonyl compounds; whereas about 20% of RSP carbohydrates, along with ketones and methoxyl compounds were gradually transformed into carbonyl and aliphatic compounds. SP and RSP substantially varied in bacterial composition. To address spatial community structure, bacterial populations were dissected by a differential elution technique into three fractions based on the degree of their attachment to peat. Community composition was surveyed with T-RFLP (HhaI, MspI, and RsaI). The fragments were further attributed to freely-dispersed (FD), particle-associated (PA), or omnipresent (OMN) bacterial fractions. In both peats, bacterial communities have gradually shifted with the progress of diagenesis. In SP, numbers of exclusively FD or PA bacteria slightly decreased while in RSP their numbers more than doubled after 4-month incubation, and the number of OMN bacteria respectively decreased. The substantially greater changes in the spatial structure of RSP bacterial community compared to SP were consistent with the chemical transformations detected in these peats suggesting the diagenesis-driven divergence of RSP bacterial community into FD and PA sub-communities.     

Modelling interacting effects of invasive earthworms and wildfire on forest floor carbon storage in the boreal forest

In forest ecosystems, earthworms and wildfire are two ecological agents that cause carbon (C) stored in the forest floor to be transferred to the atmosphere as greenhouse gases, either through heterotrophic respiration (earthworms) or through periodical combustion (wildfire). For centuries, wildfire has been an important ecological driver in the boreal forests of Canada where most fire emissions to the atmosphere originate from the forest floor. In contrast, earthworms are recent invaders, having been introduced to the Canadian boreal during the 20th century. Their spread is mainly associated with anthropogenic activities. We examined stand-level effects of earthworms and wildfire on forest floor C by adapting an earthworm-C simulation model for the boreal and using it in combination with a forest C accounting model. Because the overall impact of an invasive species depends on its areal extent, we used a spatial model of earthworm spread to calculate the total predicted change in C storage at the landscape-level following earthworm invasions in northeastern Alberta. Depending on the ecological groups of earthworms modelled in stand-level simulations, the forest floor C stock was reduced by 49.7–94.3% after 125 years, although the majority of this reduction occurred 35–40 years after initiation of the invasion. Because earthworm activities reduced the amount of forest floor C available for burning, emissions from wildfire were lower in the presence of earthworms. Spatial modelling of earthworm effects within the 5,905,400 ha Alberta–Pacific Forestry Management Area projected that forest floor C stocks in the invaded stands decreased 50,875 Mg C by 2006, and 2,706,354 Mg C by 2056, compared with the same area if earthworms were not present. Loss of forest floor C averaged over the 50 year simulation was 10 g m² yr⁻¹; similar in magnitude to estimates for C loss in the Canadian boreal due to wildfire or harvesting. These results indicate effects of non-native earthworms on the forest floor should be included in predictions of forest ecosystem C budgets to ensure accurate attribution of emissions to heterotrophic respiration versus combustion.     

Storage effects on the community level physiological profiles of Mediterranean forest soils

Community level physiological profiles (CLPPs) have been implemented in many European soil monitoring programmes as a rapid tool for the assessment of the functional properties of soil microbial communities. However, this technique has not been harmonized among different laboratories. In this experiment, the changes of the CLPPs after storage of three Mediterranean forest soils were characterised for two sampling depths. The methods to store the samples were cooling, freezing and room temperature storage. Data presented in this study provide evidence that substantial changes can occur to the soil microbial community functions, regardless of the kind of storage. Changes in functional diversity and substrate evenness depended on the profile and sampling depth. The rate of consumption of the groups of substrates, however, shifted towards an enhanced utilisation of carboxylic acids, phenols and/or amines after 1 month storage at 4 °C, regardless of the profile or sampling depth. This was attributed to the physical disruption of soil aggregates and exposure of relatively recalcitrant occluded organic matter. These effects levelled out during 1-year storage. The great sensitivity of CLPPs to storage treatment suggests to take care for immediate analysis after sampling. In case fresh samples are not available, freezing is recommended as a convenient alternative; in that case, however, the kinetic approach is required for data analysis.     

人为干扰对高黎贡山社区森林树种多样性的影响

研究人为干扰活动对高黎贡山社区森林树种多样性的影响结果表明 ,人为干扰对该社区森林有明显的负面影响 ,减少了群落树种多样性和破坏森林群落结构 ,降低森林资源量。当地居民对森林树种选择性的砍伐 ,使群落优势种组成发生变化 ,导致某些树种种群减小 ,物种生存受到极大威胁。并提出减少人为干扰的策略。     

Indirect regulation of heterotrophic peat soil respiration by water level via microbial community structure and temperature sensitivity

Northern peatlands contain a considerable share of the terrestrial carbon (C) pool, which climate change will likely affect in the future. The magnitude of this effect, however, remains uncertain, due mainly to difficulties in predicting decomposition rates in the old peat layers. We studied the effects of water level depth (WL) and soil temperature on heterotrophic soil respiration originating from peat decomposition (R_PD) in six drained peatlands using a chamber technique. The microbial community structure was determined through PLFA. Within the studied sites, temperature appeared to be the main driver of R_PD. However, our results indicate that there exist mechanisms related to lower WL conditions that can tone down the effect of temperature on R_PD. These mechanisms were described with a mathematical model that included the optimum WL response of R_PD and the effect of average WL conditions on the temperature sensitivity of R_PD. The following implications were apparent from the model parameterisation: (1) The instantaneous effect of WL on R_PD followed a Gaussian form; the optimum WL for R_PD was 61 cm. The tolerance of R_PD to the WL, however, was rather broad, indicating that the overall effect of WL was relatively weak. (2) The temperature sensitivity of R_PD depended on the average WL of the plot: plots with a high average WL showed higher temperature sensitivity than did those under drier conditions. This variation in temperature sensitivity of R_PD correlated with microbial community structure. Thus, moisture stress in the surface peat layer or, alternatively, the lowered temperature sensitivity of R_PD in low water level conditions via microbial community structure and biomass may restrict R_PD. We conclude that a warmer future climate may raise R_PD in drained peatlands only if the subsequent decrease in the moisture of the surface peat layers is minor and, thus, conditions remain favourable for decomposition.     

Temporal and spatial variability of soil respiration in a boreal mixedwood forest

Temporal and spatial variability of soil respiration (R_s) was measured and analyzed in a 74-year-old, mixedwood, boreal forest in Ontario, Canada, over a period of 2 years (August 2003–July 2005). The ranges of R_s measured during the two study years were 0.5–6.9 μmol CO₂ m⁻² s⁻¹ for 2003–2004 (Year 1) and 0.4–6.8 μmol CO₂ m⁻² s⁻¹ for 2004–2005 (Year 2). Mean annual R_s for the stand was the same for both years, 2.7 μmol CO₂ m⁻² s⁻¹. Temporal variability of R_s was controlled mainly by soil temperature (T_s), but soil moisture had a confounding effect on T_s. Annual estimates of total soil CO₂ emissions at the site, calculated using a simple empirical R_s–T_s relationship, showed that R_s can account for about 88 ± 27% of total annual ecosystem respiration at the site. The majority of soil CO₂ emissions came from the upper 12 to 20 cm organic LFH (litter–fibric–humic) soil layer. The degree of spatial variability in R_s, along the measured transect, was seasonal and followed the seasonal trend of mean R_s: increasing through the growing season and converging to a minimum in winter (coefficient of variation (CV) ranged from 4 to 74% in Year 1 and 4 to 62% in Year 2). Spatial variability in R_s was found to be negatively related to spatial variability in the C:N ratio of the LHF layer at the site. Spatial variability in R_s was also found to depend on forest tree species composition within the stand. R_s was about 15% higher in a broadleaf deciduous tree patch compared to evergreen coniferous area. However, the difference was not always significant (at 95% CI). In general, R_s in the mixedwood patch, having both deciduous and coniferous species, was dominated by broadleaf trees, reflecting changing physiological controls on R_s with seasons. Our results highlight the importance of discerning soil CO₂ emissions at a variety of spatial and temporal scales. They also suggest including the LFH soil layer and allowing for seasonal variability in CO₂ production within that layer, when modeling soil respiration in forest ecosystems.     

Bacterial community structure and microbial activity in different soils amended with biogas residues and cattle slurry

Anaerobic digestion of organic materials generates residues of differing chemical composition compared to undigested animal manures, which may affect the soil microbial ecosystem differently when used as fertilizers. This study investigated the effects of two biogas residues (BR-A and BR-B) and cattle slurry (CS) applied at rates corresponding to 70 kg NH₄⁺-N ha⁻¹ on bacterial community structure and microbial activity in three soils of different texture (a sandy, a clay and an organic clay soil). 16S rRNA genes were targeted in PCR reactions and bacterial community profiles visualized using terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism. General microbial activity was measured as basal respiration (B-resp), substrate-induced respiration (SIR), specific growth rate (μ_SIR), metabolic quotient (qCO₂) and nitrogen mineralization capacity (NMC). Non-metric multidimensional scaling analysis visualized shifts in bacterial community structure related to microbial functions. There were significant differences in bacterial community structure after 120 days of incubation (+20 °C at 70% of WHC) between non-amended (control) and amended soils, especially in the sandy soil, where CS caused a more pronounced shift than biogas residues. Terminal-restriction fragment (TRF) 307, the predominant peak in CS-amended sandy soil, was identified as possibly Bacillus or Streptococcus. TRF 226, the dominant peak in organic soil amended with BR-B, was classified as Rhodopseudomonas. B-resp significantly increased and SIR decreased in all amendments to organic soil compared with the control, potentially indicating decreased efficiency of heterotrophic microorganisms to convert organic carbon into microbial biomass. This was also reflected in an elevated qCO₂ in the organic soil. The μ_SIR level was higher in the sandy soil amended with BR-A than with BR-B or CS, indicating a shift toward species capable of rapidly utilizing glucose. NMC was significantly elevated in the clay and organic soils amended with BR-A and BR-B and in the sandy soil amended with BR-B and CS. Thus, biogas residues and cattle slurry had different effects on the bacterial community structure and microbial activity in the three soils. However, the effects of biogas residues on microbial activities were comparable in magnitude to those of cattle slurry and the bacterial community structure was less affected. Therefore, we do not see any reason not to recommend using biogas residues as fertilizers based on the results presented.     

转Bt基因棉对土壤无脊椎动物群落结构的影响

采用干、湿漏斗分离法,运用群落生态学方法,研究了转Bt基因棉"GK12"和"新棉33B"对棉田0～15 cm土层土壤无脊椎动物群落结构的影响.结果表明,线虫和螨类为棉田土壤无脊椎动物优势类群,其频度分别为54%以上和18%以上,与亲本常规棉"泗棉3号"相比,"GK12"提高了土壤线蚓数量,但降低了某些土壤无脊椎动物类群(如同翅目、目和双翅目)的数量;两种Bt棉田中,"新棉33B"棉田的同翅目昆虫数量显著高于"GK12",蜘蛛目数量显著低于"GK12"棉田,其他土壤无脊椎动物类群的数量则基本上无显著差异."GK12"显著降低了土壤无脊椎动物类群的丰富度、多样性和均匀度;两种Bt棉中,"新棉33B"棉田土壤无脊椎动物类群的丰富度、多样性和均匀度较高.Renyi多样性指数曲线也表明,"GK12"棉田各土层土壤无脊椎动物群落的多样性均显著低于"泗棉3号"棉田;"新棉33B"棉田各土层土壤无脊椎动物群落的多样性高于"GK12",但10～15 cm土层常见类群和优势类群的多样性较低.在各土层中,土壤无脊椎动物数量、多样性指数和均匀度指数动态在不同类型棉田趋势基本相同.7～11月期间,10月是土壤无脊椎动物数量的高峰期,此时在"泗棉3号"棉田土壤无脊椎动物在0～5 cm的表层和10～15 cm的深层土壤均较多,在"GK12"和"新棉33B"棉田则集中于10～15 cm的深层土壤.11月, "泗棉3号"土壤无脊椎动物类群的多样性和均匀度呈下降趋势,"GK12"则呈上升趋势.可见,种植Bt棉"GK12"可改变某些土壤无脊椎动物类群的数量,降低类群的丰富度、多样性和均匀度;两种Bt棉田的土壤无脊椎动物群落结构也有一定的差异,"新棉33B"棉田土壤无脊椎动物群落的多样性高于"GK12".     

毒死蜱对棉花根际土细菌群落多样性和结构的影响

通过室内盆栽试验模拟自然环境条件,采用高效液相色谱(HPLC)和末端限制性片段长度多态性(T-RFLP)技术,研究了土壤使用推荐剂量(5 mg·kg~(-1))及推荐剂量的2倍、3倍和4倍(10 mg·kg~(-1)、15 mg·kg~(-1)、20 mg·kg~(-1))毒死蜱对棉花根际土壤细菌群落多样性和结构的影响,以不施用毒死蜱的土壤为对照。结果表明,5 mg·kg~(-1)、10 mg·kg~(-1)、15 mg·kg~(-1)和20 mg·kg~(-1)毒死蜱在土壤中的半衰期分别为10.04 d、11.36 d、11.55 d和12.16 d,60 d时基本完全降解。毒死蜱处理60 d后,棉花生物量显著降低;毒死蜱浓度越高,棉花生物量越低。无毒死蜱条件下不同取样时间根际细菌多样性无显著差异,毒死蜱处理组前30 d细菌多样性均显著降低,60 d时毒死蜱处理组细菌多样性恢复到正常水平。研究发现毒死蜱浓度越高对细菌多样性抑制作用越显著,恢复越缓慢。主成分分析结果发现,第10 d、30 d和60 d毒死蜱处理组与对照组细菌群落结构差异显著,其中60 d时20 mg·kg~(-1)毒死蜱处理组差异最显著,即使土壤中毒死蜱完全降解,根际细菌群落结构仍不会恢复到正常水平。60 d时,被毒死蜱抑制的细菌有硝化刺菌属(Nitrospina sp.)和Cellulophaga sp.等,被激活的有芽孢杆菌属(Bacillus sp.)和链霉菌属(Streptomyces sp.)等。可见,毒死蜱的引入,重新构建了土壤细菌群落结构,显著影响棉花生长,对棉花根际土壤微生态环境冲击较大,应对其生态安全性予以重视。     

Nitrogen alters carbon dynamics during early succession in boreal forest

Boreal forests are an important source of wood products, and fertilizers could be used to improve forest yields, especially in nutrient poor regions of the boreal zone. With climate change, fire frequencies may increase, resulting in a larger fraction of the boreal landscape present in early-successional stages. Since most fertilization studies have focused on mature boreal forests, the response of burned boreal ecosystems to increased nutrient availability is unclear. Therefore, we used a nitrogen (N) fertilization experiment to test how C cycling in a recently-burned boreal ecosystem would respond to increased N availability. We hypothesized that fertilization would increase rates of decomposition, soil respiration, and the activity of extracellular enzymes involved in C cycling, thereby reducing soil C stocks. In line with our hypothesis, litter mass loss increased significantly and activities of cellulose- and chitin-degrading enzymes increased by 45-61% with N addition. We also observed a significant decline in C concentrations in the organic soil horizon from 19.5 ± 0.7% to 13.5 ± 0.6%, and there was a trend toward lower total soil C stocks in the fertilized plots. Contrary to our hypothesis, mean soil respiration over three growing seasons declined by 31% from 78.3 ± 6.5 mg CO₂-C m⁻² h⁻¹ to 54.4 ± 4.1 mg CO₂-C m⁻² h⁻¹. These changes occurred despite a 2.5-fold increase in aboveground net primary productivity with N, and were accompanied by significant shifts in the structure of the fungal community, which was dominated by Ascomycota. Our results show that the C cycle in early-successional boreal ecosystems is highly responsive to N addition. Fertilization results in an initial loss of soil C followed by depletion of soil C substrates and development of a distinct and active fungal community. Total microbial biomass declines and respiration rates do not keep pace with plant inputs. These patterns suggest that N fertilization could transiently reduce but then increase ecosystem C storage in boreal regions experiencing more frequent fires.