The drivers of soil microbial communities structure on forest stands along the altitudinal gradient in western carpathians

2020

Abstract This study examines the effect of the soil physicochemical properties and the vegetation diversity and composition on the soil microorganism community structure on the temperate forest stands along the altitudinal gradient. The studied stands were located at three altitudes (600, 900, and 1200 m a.s.l.) on five separate mountain slopes (treated as independent replicates) in the Western Carpathians Mountains (Poland). The soil physicochemical characteristics varied widely between the stands on these same altitude, and only the organic matter content, water-holding capacity and dissolved organic nitrogen differed significantly between the different altitudes, exhibited highest values…