Soil eukaryotes were analyzed using DNA metabarcoding of the 18S rDNA V4 region from 62 forest monitoring plots in Norway.
Clear-cut forestry greatly influences the boreal forest ecosystem, transforming the forests into mosaics of even-aged forest stands of various ages. More recently, a growing body of evidence is highlighting the effects of forestry on various organismal groups, far less is known about how clear-cut forestry influences soil microeukaryotes, which are integral to soil functioning through their roles in regulating microbial activity, driving nutrient cycling and stabilizing soil food webs. In this study, we investigate how stand-age after clear-cutting, as well as other environmental factors, impact the soil microeukaryote communities in boreal forests. For this purpose, we sampled soil from 58 National Forest Inventory stands in southeastern Norway, representing gradients in site index and stand age. Soil eukaryotes were analyzed using DNA metabarcoding of the 18S rDNA V4 region. Fungi was the most abundant and diverse group of soil Eukaryotes, followed by Metazoa (including mesofauna), Rhizaria and Amoebozoa. The diversity of most of the taxonomic groups responded similarly to the environmental factors considered. Stand-age and forest type (coniferous, mixed, and deciduous) had limited direct impact on the species richness per se, while soil nutrients and pH were related to diversity. Forest type, pH and nutrient content had strong effects on the community composition of microeukaryotes, while stand age had a minor influence. This study represents one of the few DNA-based screenings of microeukaryotes in boreal forest soils and indicates an extensive diversity primarily structured by natural environmental gradients rather than forest age.
Clear-cut forestry greatly influences the boreal forest ecosystem, transforming the forests into mosaics of even-aged forest stands of various ages. More recently, a growing body of evidence is highlighting the effects of forestry on various organismal groups, far less is known about how clear-cut forestry influences soil microeukaryotes, which are integral to soil functioning through their roles in regulating microbial activity, driving nutrient cycling and stabilizing soil food webs. In this study, we investigate how stand-age after clear-cutting, as well as other environmental factors, impact the soil microeukaryote communities in boreal forests. For this purpose, we sampled soil from 58 National Forest Inventory stands in southeastern Norway, representing gradients in site index and stand age. Soil eukaryotes were analyzed using DNA metabarcoding of the 18S rDNA V4 region. Fungi was the most abundant and diverse group of soil Eukaryotes, followed by Metazoa (including mesofauna), Rhizaria and Amoebozoa. The diversity of most of the taxonomic groups responded similarly to the environmental factors considered. Stand-age and forest type (coniferous, mixed, and deciduous) had limited direct impact on the species richness per se, while soil nutrients and pH were related to diversity. Forest type, pH and nutrient content had strong effects on the community composition of microeukaryotes, while stand age had a minor influence. This study represents one of the few DNA-based screenings of microeukaryotes in boreal forest soils and indicates an extensive diversity primarily structured by natural environmental gradients rather than forest age.
Department of Biosciences