Microbial soil biodiversity in beech forests of European mountains

Abstract

Fagus sylvatica is widely distributed across Europe thanks to its high adaptability in a wide variety of soils and climate. Microbial communities are essential for maintaining forest soil quality and are responsible for forest ecosystem functioning; the ability of soil microorganisms to respond to abiotic stressors (e.g. organic carbon losses, water scarcity, temperature changes), is crucial under ongoing environmental changes and also supports tree health. In this study, soil samples were collected from pure beech plots as part of the COST Action project CLIMO to find differences in microbial community characteristics and evaluate the effects of soil properties on microbial communities across altitude, latitude and longitude gradients. Positive relationships were found between organic carbon content and both microbial abundance and dehydrogenase activity. Dehydrogenase and catalase activities were altitude-correlated and microbial activities were longitude-correlated. In the most southern beech plot, microbial community was abundant and displayed high activities. This shows that microbial communities could help tree populations to better adapt to predicted changes in environmental conditions in the future. We suggest that research into forest health and beech performance should also test soil microbial enzymatic activity, in particular under changing climate conditions, to assist in identifying adaptation strategies.

Microbial carbon use efficiency in different ecosystems: A meta‐analysis based on a biogeochemical equilibrium model

“…The longitude could positively affect the abundance of pathogens in the agro-ecosystem and may reduce resource inputs to potentially affect microbial CUE (Guo et al, 2021). In the forest ecosystem, longitude was also as the most important factor positively affecting microbial community, activity, and function (Dinca et al, 2021).…”

“…The longitude could positively affect the abundance of pathogens in the agro‐ecosystem and may reduce resource inputs to potentially affect microbial CUE (Guo et al, 2021). In the forest ecosystem, longitude was also as the most important factor positively affecting microbial community, activity, and function (Dinca et al, 2021). A negative correlation was observed between longitude and the aboveground biomass within the grasslands indicating that the decreases in the available plant‐derived carbon to soil microbes along longitude transect (Sun et al, 2013).…”

Some options for Climate-Smart Forestry in Europe’s mountain regions

“…Because soil microbiology is crucial for soil system functioning, it is important to analyze it in the context of predicted climate change. Dinca et al (2021) demonstrate that microbial communities could play a crucial role in forest adaptation to environmental change. The authors conclude that the correlation between soil microbial community attributes and the physical and chemical properties of soil should be considered in CSF strategies.…”

“…Two papers in this issue are concerned with forest soil properties in pure beech stands across Europe. The paper by Dinca et al (2021) analyzed microbial soil biodiversity and the paper by Kašanin-Grubin et al (2021) assessed the erodibility properties of forest soils on different types of bedrock. Because soil microbiology is crucial for soil system functioning, it is important to analyze it in the context of predicted climate change.…”