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Successional changes in the soil microbial community along a vegetation development sequence in a subalpine volcanic desert on Mount Fuji, Japan

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Abstract

Aims

To study the relationship between vegetation development and changes in the soil microbial community during primary succession in a volcanic desert, we examined successional changes in microbial respiration, biomass, and community structure in a volcanic desert on Mount Fuji, Japan.

Methods

Soil samples were collected from six successional stages, including isolated island-like plant communities. We measured microbial respiration and performed phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) analysis, denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) analysis, and community-level physiological profile (CLPP) analysis using Biolog microplates.

Results

Microbial biomass (total PLFA content) increased during plant succession and was positively correlated with soil properties including soil water and soil organic matter (SOM) contents. The microbial respiration rate per unit biomass decreased during succession. Nonmetric multidimensional scaling based on the PLFA, DGGE, and CLPP analyses showed a substantial shift in microbial community structure as a result of initial colonization by the pioneer herb Polygonum cuspidatum and subsequent colonization by Larix kaempferi into central areas of island-like communities. These shifts in microbial community structure probably reflect differences in SOM quality.

Conclusions

Microbial succession in the volcanic desert of Mt. Fuji was initially strongly affected by colonization of the pioneer herbaceous plant (P. cuspidatum) associated with substantial changes in the soil environment. Subsequent changes in vegetation, including the invasion of shrubs such as L. kaempferi, also affected the microbial community structure.

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Acknowledgements

We thank Dr N. Sakurai of Hiroshima University for providing the laboratory facilities. The comments from the editor and four anonymous reviewers greatly improved the manuscript. This study was partly supported by a Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research from the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Science and Engineering, Waseda University, 2-2, Wakamatsucho, Shinjuku, Tokyo, 162-8480, Japan

    Shinpei Yoshitake

  2. School of Humanities and Culture, Tokai University, 4-1-1, Kitakaname, Hiratsuka, Kanagawa, 259-1292, Japan

    Masaaki Fujiyoshi

  3. National Institute of Polar Research, 10-3, Midoricho, Tachikawa, Tokyo, 190-8518, Japan

    Kenichi Watanabe

  4. Graduate School of Science and Technology, Shizuoka University, 836, Ohya, Suruga, Shizuoka, Shizuoka, 422-8017, Japan

    Takehiro Masuzawa

  5. Graduate School of Biosphere Science, Hiroshima University, 1-7-1, Kagamiyama, Higashi-Hiroshima, Hiroshima, 739-8521, Japan

    Takayuki Nakatsubo

  6. Faculty of Education and Integrated Arts and Sciences, Waseda University, 2-2, Wakamatsucho, Shinjuku, Tokyo, 162-8480, Japan

    Hiroshi Koizumi

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  1. Shinpei Yoshitake
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  2. Masaaki Fujiyoshi
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  4. Takehiro Masuzawa
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  6. Hiroshi Koizumi
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Correspondence to Shinpei Yoshitake.

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Responsible Editor: Nico Eisenhauer.

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Yoshitake, S., Fujiyoshi, M., Watanabe, K. et al. Successional changes in the soil microbial community along a vegetation development sequence in a subalpine volcanic desert on Mount Fuji, Japan. Plant Soil 364, 261–272 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-012-1348-7

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