Forest conversion alters the structure and functional processes of tropical forest soil microbial communities

Abstract

Many studies have been carried‐out on the effects of forest conversion on soil microbial community composition and diversity. However, impacts on soil microbial functions and how diversity changes across scales are poorly understood. To fill the research gap, we used metagenomic sequencing and 16S rRNA and ITS gene sequences to evaluate the microbial composition, diversity, and function of 260 soil samples collected from tropical rainforest and rubber plantation sites across Hainan Island, South China. The results revealed that: (a) Forest conversion resulted in shifts in microbial composition (from the Proteobacteria to Chloroflexi), archaeal composition (from Thaumarchaeota to Bathyarchaeota), and fungal composition (from Basidiomycota to Ascomycota). (b) Bacterial alpha, beta, and gamma diversity were not reduced by forest conversion. However, fungal beta diversity was lower in the plantations, resulting in a decrease in gamma diversity. Archaeal beta diversity was higher in rainforest versus rubber plantation soils, but archaeal gamma diversity showed the opposite pattern. (c) Soil functional composition and diversity did not differ with forest type; however, genes related to metabolism and degradation processes were significantly more abundant in the tropical rainforest. These changes in gene abundance could alter ecosystem processes. (d) Soil pH and environmental heterogeneity were the main drivers of microbial taxonomic composition and functional gene composition. Land use explained 13.28% of the variation in taxonomic composition but did not explain changes in functional gene composition. We concluded that land use changes can alter soil microbial community structure and have profound effects on ecosystem functions and processes.

Effects of Plant Fine Root Functional Traits and Soil Nutrients on the Diversity of Rhizosphere Microbial Communities in Tropical Cloud Forests in a Dry Season

“…They integrated the results of 1235 global change factors of eight ecosystems including agricultural land, tundra, temperate forests, tropical and subtropical forests, Mediterranean vegetation, grasslands, deserts and wetlands, and concluded that soil pH is the most important factor that can be used to predict the impact of global change factors on microbial alpha diversity [27]. In particular, the results are also consistent with the results of Flores-Rentería et al [66] and Lan et al [46]. The composition of soil microorganisms in tropical rainforests is related to soil pH.…”

“…The soil fungal communities in tropical forests in Puerto Rico are mainly Ascomycota and Basidiomycota [51]. Similarly, Lan et al [46] found that Ascomycota and Basidiomycota are the major phyla of soil fungi communities in Hainan Island. Therefore, the results of this study indicate that the microbial composition of the rhizosphere soil of high-altitude tropical forests is similar to that of low-altitude tropical forests.…”

“…Similarly, the main bacterial phyla of the microbial community of the virgin tropical forest soil in southern Vietnam are Proteobacteria and Acidobacteria [45]. Furthermore, Lan et al [46] also found that the Acidobacteria are one of the main groups of soil bacterial communities in tropical rainforests when studying the soil microbial community in the tropical rainforest of Hainan Island. Therefore, it may be hypothesized that the composition of rhizosphere bacteria in tropical cloud forest plants might be affected by the combination of the soil bacteria pool and local soil characteristics.…”

Soil quality and C-S-R fungal communities in monoculture plantations after conversion from subtropical forest

“…The annual expanding rates of monoculture plantations have increased to 2% over the past 25 years (FAO, 2015). Most conversion from natural forests to plantations has occurred in subtropical regions (Lan et al, 2021) . Such conversion results in alterations of ecosystem services and functions along with changes in plant diversity and soil nutrients loss (Krashevska, Klarner, Widyastuti, Maraun, & Scheu, 2015;Yang, Zhu, Xu, & Zheng, 2018).…”

Humic fractions as indicators of soil organic matter responses to clear‐cutting in mountain and lowland conditions of southwestern Poland

“…The disadvantages of clear-cutting for the environment are, among others, unfavourable growth conditions for species requiring shelter when they are young, the threat of wind and water erosion to the surface, especially in the mountain areas, the risk of secondary swamping in wetlands, drying of the topsoil layers, and a strong expansion of herbaceous vegetation (Borelli et al, 2017;Ussiri & Johnson, 2007). According to many authors, changes in forest cover can alter microbial community and accelerate the degree of organic matter decomposition, leading to C losses (Ishikawa et al, 2007;Jamroz et al, 2014;Lan et al, 2020;Prescott, 2005;Smolander et al, 2019;Ussiri & Johnson, 2007;Valenzuela & Cervantes, 2021).…”