1. Uncoupling of microbial community structure and function in decomposing litter across beech forest ecosystems in Central Europe.
- Author
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Purahong W, Schloter M, Pecyna MJ, Kapturska D, Däumlich V, Mital S, Buscot F, Hofrichter M, Gutknecht JL, and Krüger D
- Subjects
- Acid Phosphatase metabolism, Biomass, Cellulases metabolism, Cellulose 1,4-beta-Cellobiosidase metabolism, Ecosystem, Europe, Fagus physiology, Forestry methods, Forests, Humans, Microbial Consortia physiology, Peroxidases metabolism, Seasons, Trees physiology, Bacterial Proteins metabolism, Fungal Proteins metabolism, Plant Leaves chemistry, Soil chemistry, Soil Microbiology
- Abstract
The widespread paradigm in ecology that community structure determines function has recently been challenged by the high complexity of microbial communities. Here, we investigate the patterns of and connections between microbial community structure and microbially-mediated ecological function across different forest management practices and temporal changes in leaf litter across beech forest ecosystems in Central Europe. Our results clearly indicate distinct pattern of microbial community structure in response to forest management and time. However, those patterns were not reflected when potential enzymatic activities of microbes were measured. We postulate that in our forest ecosystems, a disconnect between microbial community structure and function may be present due to differences between the drivers of microbial growth and those of microbial function.
- Published
- 2014
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