Bacterial communities in Malagasy soils with differing levels of disturbance affecting botanical diversity.
Madagascar is well-known for the exceptional biodiversity of its macro-flora and fauna, but the biodiversity of Malagasy microbial communities remains relatively unexplored. Understanding patterns of bacterial diversity in soil and their correlations with above-ground botanical diversity could influence conservation planning as well as sampling strategies to maximize access to bacterially derived natural products. We present the first detailed description of Malagasy soil bacterial communities from a targeted 16S rRNA gene survey of greater than 290,000 sequences generated using 454 pyrosequencing. Two sampling plots in each of three forest conservation areas were established to represent different levels of disturbance resulting from human impact through agriculture and selective exploitation of trees, as well as from natural impacts of cyclones. In parallel, we performed an in-depth characterization of the total vascular plant morphospecies richness within each plot. The plots representing different levels of disturbance within each forest did not differ significantly in bacterial diversity or richness. Changes in bacterial community composition were largest between forests rather than between different levels of impact within a forest. The largest difference in bacterial community composition with disturbance was observed at the Vohibe forest conservation area, and this difference was correlated with changes in both vascular plant richness and soil pH. These results provide the first survey of Malagasy soil bacterial diversity and establish a baseline of botanical diversity within important conservation areas.
Institute of Marine and Environmental Technology, University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America.
Leah C
LC
Blasiak
The Center for Microbial Sciences, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States of America.
Alex W
AW
Schmidt
Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, Missouri, United States of America.
Honoré
H
Andriamiarinoro
Institute of Marine and Environmental Technology, University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America.
Temesgen
T
Mulaw
Laboratoire de Microbiologie de Environnement, Centre National de Recherches sur l'Environnement, Antananarivo, Madagascar.
Rado
R
Rasolomampianina
Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, Missouri, United States of America.
Wendy L
WL
Applequist
Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, Missouri, United States of America.
Chris
C
Birkinshaw
Laboratoire de Microbiologie de Environnement, Centre National de Recherches sur l'Environnement, Antananarivo, Madagascar.
Félicitée
F
Rejo-Fienena
Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, Missouri, United States of America ; Département Systématique et Évolution (UMR 7205), Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Paris, France.
Porter P
PP
Lowry
The Center for Microbial Sciences, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States of America.
Thomas M
TM
Schmidt
Institute of Marine and Environmental Technology, University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America.
Russell T
RT
Hill
D001419:Bacteria / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics*; D044822:Biodiversity; D008270:Madagascar; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S; D012987:Soil; D012988:Soil Microbiology; D014197:Trees / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics*
D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S; D012987:Soil