| description |
Soil management is necessary to ensure the fertility of reforested land, yet the long-term impact of harvesting on the soil microbial communities which mediate fertility remains largely a matter of conjecture. In 1989, the North American-wide ‘long-term soil productivity’ (LTSP) study was initiated to assess the impacts of organic matter removal on forest soils on a decadal timeframe. We sampled comprehensively within the LTSP framework in six biogeographic zones throughout British Columbia, California, Ontario and Texas, producing ITS and 16S pyrotag libraries. We observed major expansions in populations of desiccation, radiation and heat-resistant organisms from a broad diversity of fungal and bacterial groups. By identifying specific taxa, genes and processes altered post-harvesting, we contribute to refining long-term monitoring efforts and reveal important phenomenon impacting long-term forest regeneration. |