The role of microorganisms at different stages of ecosystem development for soil formation

Abstract

Soil formation is the result of a complex network of biological as well as chemical and physical processes. The role of soil microbes is of high interest, since they are responsible for most biological transformations and drive the development of stable and labile pools of carbon (C), nitrogen (N) and other nutrients, which facilitate the subsequent establishment of plant communities. Forefields of receding glaciers provide unique chronosequences of different soil development stages and are ideal ecosystems to study the interaction of bacteria, fungi and archaea with their abiotic environment. In this review we give insights into the role of microbes for soil development. The results presented are based on studies performed within the Collaborative Research Program DFG SFB/TRR 38 (<a href="http://www.tu-cottbus.de/ecosystem"_target="blank">http://www.tu-cottbus.de/ecosystem</a> ) and are supplemented by data from other studies. The review focusses on the microbiology of major steps of soil formation. Special attention is given to the development of nutrient cycles on the formation of biological soil crusts (BSCs) and on the establishment of plant–microbe interactions

Microbial and Biogeochemical Dynamics in Glacier Forefields Are Sensitive to Century-Scale Climate and Anthropogenic Change

“…Here, we show through modeling, that the heterotrophic degradation of organic matter represents a major, potentially under-appreciated, process for sustaining sources of available nutrients to microbial communities in glacier forefield soils, particularly if organic carbon input to Arctic glacier forefields is enhanced in the future. The clear response of microbial growth to enhanced DIN and organic substrate deposition (NITRO and SUBS, Figure 6) is generally in line with the current perception of glacier forefields as nutrient-starved environments, and reinforces our result that nutrient availability is a major limiting factor on rates of bacterial growth and production (Jonsdottir et al, 1995;Duc et al, 2009b;Brankatschk et al, 2011;Schulz et al, 2013;Bradley et al, 2014).…”

“…Forefield soils accumulate organic carbon from autochthonous production, allochthonous deposition, and ancient sources that are mobilized during glacier retreat (Schulz et al, 2013). Similarly, glacier surfaces accumulate organic carbon from biological activity (e.g., in situ primary production) and the deposition of allochthonous organic material from terrestrial or anthropogenic sources (Hood and Berner, 2009;Singer et al, 2012;Stibal et al, 2012).…”

“…The physical, geochemical and biological development of exposed soils following glacier retreat have been studied using chronosequence approaches (Bradley et al, 2014 and references therein). Decades of empirical research in glacier forefields has shown that microbes support enhanced weathering rates, the development of complex community structures, the colonization of plants, as well as the physical process of soil formation (Schulz et al, 2013;Bradley et al, 2014). More recently, data derived from field campaigns in the Alps, the Canadian Arctic, and Svalbard, as well as laboratory experiments, were integrated with numerical modeling using the Soil biogeocHemIcal Model for Microbial Ecosystem Response (SHIMMER) to explore microbial dynamics and nutrient fluxes along soil chronosequences (Bradley et al, 2015(Bradley et al, , 2016b).…”

Reforestation of a Degraded Area with Eucalyptus and Sesbania: Microbial Activity and Chemical Soil Properties

“…The significant role played by microorganisms in the sustainability and productivity of terrestrial systems has been widely investigated (Silva et al, 2004;Schulz et al, 2013). Microorganisms are directly or indirectly responsible for a variety of microbiological and biochemical processes, especially in nutrient cycling and soil fertility (Carvalho et al, 2008;Schulz et al, 2013).…”

Distinct Mineral Weathering Behaviors of the Novel Mineral-Weathering Strains Rhizobium yantingense H66 and Rhizobium etli CFN42

“…ilicate weathering in terrestrial ecosystems plays an important role in the formation of soil and soil nutrients, in neutralization of acid rain, and in the long-term drawdown of atmospheric CO 2 (1)(2)(3)(4)(5). Many studies indicate that bacteria can significantly affect mineral dissolution by producing acids and metal-complexing ligands, changing redox conditions, or mediating the formation of secondary mineral phases (6)(7)(8)(9)(10).…”