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Fine-scale diversity patterns in belowground microbial communities are consistent across kingdoms.

Fine-scale diversity patterns in belowground microbial communities are consistent across kingdoms.

Authors :
Aas AB
Andrew CJ
Blaalid R
Vik U
Kauserud H
Davey ML
Source :
FEMS microbiology ecology [FEMS Microbiol Ecol] 2019 Jun 01; Vol. 95 (6).
Publication Year :
2019

Abstract

The belowground environment is heterogeneous and complex at fine spatial scales. Physical structures, biotic components and abiotic conditions create a patchwork mosaic of potential niches for microbes. Questions remain about mechanisms and patterns of community assembly belowground, including: Do fungal and bacterial communities assemble differently? How do microbes reach the roots of host plants? Within a 4 m2 plot in alpine vegetation, high throughput sequencing of the 16S (bacteria) and ITS1 (fungal) ribosomal RNA genes was used to characterise microbial community composition in roots and adjacent soil of a viviparous host plant (Bistorta vivipara). At fine spatial scales, beta-diversity patterns in belowground bacterial and fungal communities were consistent, although compositional change was greater in bacteria than fungi. Spatial structure and distance-decay relationships were also similar for bacteria and fungi, with significant spatial structure detected at <50 cm among root- but not soil-associated microbes. Recruitment of root microbes from the soil community appeared limited at this sampling and sequencing depth. Possible explanations for this include recruitment from low-abundance populations of soil microbes, active recruitment from neighbouring plants and/or vertical transmission of symbionts to new clones, suggesting varied methods of microbial community assembly for viviparous plants. Our results suggest that even at relatively small spatial scales, deterministic processes play a significant role in belowground microbial community structure and assembly.<br /> (© FEMS 2019.)

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
1574-6941
Volume :
95
Issue :
6
Database :
MEDLINE
Journal :
FEMS microbiology ecology
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
31049552
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1093/femsec/fiz058