Soil microbial communities influencing organic phosphorus mineralization in a coastal dune chronosequence in New Zealand. Issue 4 (20th February 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Gaiero, Jonathan R; Tosi, Micaela; Bent, Elizabeth; Boitt, Gustavo; Khosla, Kamini; Turner, Benjamin L; Richardson, Alan E; Condron, Leo M; Dunfield, Kari E
• Is Part Of: FEMS microbiology ecology. Volume 97:Issue 4(2021)
• Publication Date: 2021-02-20
• Subjects: Haast chronosequence -- pedogenesis -- phosphorus cycling -- phosphatase -- phytase -- phosphonatase; Microbial ecology -- Periodicals; Microbiology -- Periodicals; 579.17
• DOI: 10.1093/femsec/fiab034
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0168-6496

Abstract

ABSTRACT: The Haast chronosequence in New Zealand is an ∼6500-year dune formation series, characterized by rapid podzol development, phosphorus (P) depletion and a decline in aboveground biomass. We examined bacterial and fungal community composition within mineral soil fractions using amplicon-based high-throughput sequencing (Illumina MiSeq). We targeted bacterial non-specific acid (class A, phoN / phoC ) and alkaline ( phoD ) phosphomonoesterase genes and quantified specific genes and transcripts using real-time PCR. Soil bacterial diversity was greatest after 4000 years of ecosystem development and associated with an increased richness of phylotypes and a significant decline in previously dominant taxa (Firmicutes and Proteobacteria). Soil fungal communities transitioned from predominantly Basidiomycota to Ascomycota along the chronosequence and were most diverse in 290- to 392-year-old soils, coinciding with maximum tree basal area and organic P accumulation. The Bacteria:Fungi ratio decreased amid a competitive and interconnected soil community as determined by network analysis. Overall, soil microbial communities were associated with soil changes and declining P throughout pedogenesis and ecosystem succession. We identified an increased dependence on organic P mineralization, as found by the profiled acid phosphatase genes, soil acid phosphatase activity and function inference from predicted metagenomes (PICRUSt2). Abstract : Soil microbial communities were associated with soil changes and declining phosphorus (P) throughout pedogenesis and ecosystem succession, along the Haast chronosequence, with increased functional potential for organic P mineralization.