Microbial activities and communities in alpine soils along an altitudinal gradient

Abstract

Microbial activities and microbial communities (using culture-dependent and culture-independent methods, including PLFA patterns, FISH, and metagenome rDNA analyses) were determined in soil samples collected along an alpine altitude gradient (1500 m, 1900 m, 2300 m, 2530 m

Hohe Tauern/Gross-glockner) exposed to North and South. Altitude, exposition, and soil physical and chemical characteristics had a significant effect on a number of measured parameters. With increasing altitude, an increase in the relative amount of culturable psychrophilic microorganisms, an increase in the relative amount of the fungal population, and an increase in bacteria belonging to Bacteroidetes were found. Soil enzyme activities (dehydrogenase and lipase-esterase) were better adapted to low temperatures in soils at 2530 m compared to soils sampled at lower altitudes.