Selective logging impacts on soil microbial communities and functioning in Bornean tropical forest.

Area of Science:

• Tropical ecology
• Soil microbiology
• Forestry science

Background:

• Borneo's rainforests are critical for biodiversity and carbon storage.
• Selective logging significantly alters remaining forests, impacting soil microbial functions.
• Understanding these impacts is crucial for effective forest management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the effects of selective logging on soil microbial communities and functions in Borneo.
• To assess the resilience and vulnerability of tropical forest soil ecosystems to logging disturbance.

Main Methods:

• Soil sampling from logging gaps and intact forests in Borneo.
• Characterization of bacterial and fungal communities using molecular techniques.
• Measurement of soil physicochemical properties, enzyme activity, nutrient supply, and microbial respiration.

Main Results:

• Soil microbial biomass and diversity were largely resistant to logging.
• Logging significantly altered bacterial and fungal community composition, decreasing ectomycorrhizal fungi and increasing arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi.
• Reduced soil phosphorus and nitrate supply rates were observed, indicating nutrient cycling downregulation.
• Canopy openness in gaps influenced fungal communities and nutrient cycling.

Conclusions:

• Selective logging alters tropical soil microbial community structure and function, despite apparent resistance in some attributes.
• Impacts on key fungal groups suggest a downregulation of nutrient and carbon cycling.
• Forest management strategies must consider these microbial shifts for sustainable tropical forest ecosystems.