Explorando el papel de la composición de especies forestales en las comunidades microbianas del suelo

Forest soils microorganisms sustain essential ecosystem services and play a key role on carbon and nutrients biogeochemical cycles. Vegetation characteristics and soil physicochemical properties modulate microbial diversity. The aim of this project is to investigate the relationships between tree species composition and soil microbial communities in mixed and monospecific forest stands of Quercus pyrenaica and Pynus sylvestris. For this, soil physicochemical factors were analyzed (pH, electric conductivity, phosphatase enzymatic activity, availability of phosphorus and organic matter content) and functional characterization of soil microbial communities was conducted using the technique Biolog EcoPlate™. Results showed a greater soil phosphorous availability and a higher functional diversity of soil bacterial communities in monospecific oak stands than in monospecific pine stands. Furthermore, greater functional diversity was found in soil microbial communities associated to pine trees in mixed than in monospecific stand. The diversification of monospecific pine stands could increase the functional diversity of microbial communities and contributes to increase soil nutrient availability in these forests.