title: Resistance and resilience of the forest soil microbiome to logging-associated compaction.
abstract: Soil compaction is a major disturbance associated with logging, but we lack a fundamental understanding of how this affects the soil microbiome. We assessed the structural resistance and resilience of the microbiome using a high-throughput pyrosequencing approach in differently compacted soils at two forest sites and correlated these findings with changes in soil physical properties and functions. Alterations in soil porosity after compaction strongly limited the air and water conductivity. Compaction significantly reduced abundance, increased diversity, and persistently altered the structure of the microbiota. Fungi were less resistant and resilient than bacteria; clayey soils were less resistant and resilient than sandy soils. The strongest effects were observed in soils with unfavorable moisture conditions, where air and water conductivities dropped well below 10% of their initial value. Maximum impact was observed around 6-12 months after compaction, and microbial communities showed resilience in lightly but not in severely compacted soils 4 years post disturbance. Bacteria capable of anaerobic respiration, including sulfate, sulfur, and metal reducers of the Proteobacteria and Firmicutes, were significantly associated with compacted soils. Compaction detrimentally affected ectomycorrhizal species, whereas saprobic and parasitic fungi proportionally increased in compacted soils. Structural shifts in the microbiota were accompanied by significant changes in soil processes, resulting in reduced carbon dioxide, and increased methane and nitrous oxide emissions from compacted soils. This study demonstrates that physical soil disturbance during logging induces profound and long-lasting changes in the soil microbiome and associated soil functions, raising awareness regarding sustainable management of economically driven logging operations.
authors.affiliation: 1] Forest Soils and Biogeochemistry, Swiss Federal Research Institute WSL, Birmensdorf, Switzerland [2] Molecular Ecology, Research Station Agroscope Reckenholz-Tänikon ART, Zurich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Martin
authors.identifier: 0000000180695284
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hartmann
authors.affiliation: Institute of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Pascal A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Niklaus
authors.affiliation: Forest Soils and Biogeochemistry, Swiss Federal Research Institute WSL, Birmensdorf, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Stephan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zimmermann
authors.affiliation: Forest Soils and Biogeochemistry, Swiss Federal Research Institute WSL, Birmensdorf, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Schmutz
authors.affiliation: Forest Work Science and Applied Informatics, Technical University of Munich, Freising, Germany.
authors.forename: Johann
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kremer
authors.affiliation: Natural History Museum, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia.
authors.forename: Kessy
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Abarenkov
authors.affiliation: Forest Soils and Biogeochemistry, Swiss Federal Research Institute WSL, Birmensdorf, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lüscher
authors.affiliation: Molecular Ecology, Research Station Agroscope Reckenholz-Tänikon ART, Zurich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Franco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Widmer
authors.affiliation: Forest Soils and Biogeochemistry, Swiss Federal Research Institute WSL, Birmensdorf, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Beat
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Frey
mesh_terms: D001419:Bacteria / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics; D018407:Bacterial Physiological Phenomena; D044822:Biodiversity; D021903:DNA, Ribosomal Spacer / Q000235:genetics; D005658:Fungi / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D064307:Microbiota / Q000502:physiology*; D016062:Porosity; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / Q000235:genetics; D012987:Soil / Q000737:chemistry; D012988:Soil Microbiology; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D021903:DNA, Ribosomal Spacer; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S; D012987:Soil
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