Ground cover and slope exposure effects on micro- and mesobiota in forest soils

Gómez-Brandón, María; Ascher-Jenull, Judith; Bardelli, Tommaso; Fornasier, Flavio; Sartori, Giacomo; Pietramellara, Giacomo; Arfaioli, Paola; Egli, Markus; Beylich, Anneke; Insam, Heribert; Graefe, Ulfert

doi:10.5167/uzh-145658

Citations

Citation copied

Gómez-Brandón, M., Ascher-Jenull, J., Bardelli, T., Fornasier, F., Sartori, G., Pietramellara, G., Arfaioli, P., Egli, M., Beylich, A., Insam, H., & Graefe, U. (2017). Ground cover and slope exposure effects on micro- and mesobiota in forest soils. Ecological Indicators, 80, 174–185. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolind.2017.05.032

Abstract

The interrelation of Alpine topography with the micro − and mesobiota is still poorly understood. We investigated the effects of ground cover type and slope exposure on the soil microbial biomass (double-stranded DNA, dsDNA) and abundances (real time PCR, qPCR); hydrolytic enzyme activities; and enchytraeid community structure in top soils (2.5-cm increments depth) in subalpine forests in the Italian Alps. Dominant ground covers were grass, moss, litter and woody debris at the north- and the south-facing slopes. The autochthonous soil