Metabolic diversity and seasonal variation of soil microbial communities in natural forested wetlands

Abstract

This study explores the effects of vegetation and season on soil microorganisms and enzymatic activity of different wetlands in a temperate climate. Microbial carbon metabolism diversity was assessed using community-level physiological profiles (CLPP) with 31 different carbon substrates. CLPP indicated that significant interactions occur during carbon substrate metabolism of the microorganisms. Furthermore, the different types of vegetation present in the wetland ecosystem combined with the seasonal effects to influence microbial carbon metabolism and enzymatic activity. The most significant differences occurred to carbohydrates, carboxylic acids, and amino acids. The Mantel test confirmed positive correlations between soil enzymatic activities and microbial carbon metabolism. Soil microorganisms in Betula ovalifolia and Carex schmidtii wetlands used carbon substrates more efficiently in summer than those in other forested wetlands during other periods. Enzymatic activities also showed a similar trend as microbial carbon metabolism. The results demonstrate that microbial carbon metabolism patterns can be used as biological indicators in wetland ecological alterations due to vegetation type or to seasonal factors.

Keywords

Forested wetlands / Community-level physiological profiles (CLPP) / Carbon metabolism diversity / Soil enzymatic activity / Seasonality