Potential microbial bioindicators of phosphorus mining in a temperate deciduous forest.

Area of Science:

• Soil microbiology
• Biogeochemistry
• Ecosystem ecology

Background:

• Soil microbes are crucial for phosphorus (P) availability in nutrient-poor soils.
• Phosphatase enzymes produced by microbes
• mine
• recalcitrant organic P.
• Identifying specific microbial taxa involved in P mining is essential for understanding soil P cycling and developing bioindicators.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify specific fungal and bacterial taxa involved in phosphorus (P) mining in low-P forest soils.
• To determine potential microbial bioindicators of low P availability.
• To investigate the role of microbial communities in P cycling under manipulated P levels.

Main Methods:

• A 5-year P enrichment experiment was conducted on low-P forest soils.
• High-throughput sequencing was employed to profile the soil microbial community.
• The relative abundance of microbial taxa was correlated with P availability and phosphatase production.

Main Results:

• Several microbial taxa, including Russulales and Acidobacteria Subgroup 2, were identified as candidate bioindicators of P mining.
• The abundance of these P-mining taxa decreased with elevated P levels.
• Specific taxa were also identified as indicators of high P availability, such as Mytilinidales and Sebacinales.

Conclusions:

• Phosphorus (P) limitation mitigation in forest soils is a specialized trait mediated by specific microbial taxa.
• The ability to utilize recalcitrant organic P is not widespread but confined to a select group of microbes.
• This study enhances our understanding of microbial roles in P cycling and provides a basis for future research on ecosystem changes.