Microbial community coalescence and nitrogen cycling in simulated mortality decomposition hotspots
Abstract Background The pulsed introduction of dead plant and animal material into soils represents one of the primary mechanisms for returning organic carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) compounds to biogeochemical cycles. Decomposition of animal carcasses provides a high C and N resource that stimulates i...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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SpringerOpen
2023-09-01
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| Series: | Ecological Processes |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13717-023-00451-y |
| _version_ | 1827724596848099328 |
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| author | Sarah W. Keenan Alexandra L. Emmons Jennifer M. DeBruyn |
| author_facet | Sarah W. Keenan Alexandra L. Emmons Jennifer M. DeBruyn |
| author_sort | Sarah W. Keenan |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background The pulsed introduction of dead plant and animal material into soils represents one of the primary mechanisms for returning organic carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) compounds to biogeochemical cycles. Decomposition of animal carcasses provides a high C and N resource that stimulates indigenous environmental microbial communities and introduces non-indigenous, carcass-derived microbes to the environment. However, the dynamics of the coalesced microbial communities, and the relative contributions of environment- and carcass-derived microbes to C and N cycling are unknown. To test whether environment-derived, carcass-derived, or the combined microbial communities exhibited a greater influence on C and N cycling, we conducted controlled laboratory experiments that combined carcass decomposition fluids and soils to simulate carcass decomposition hotspots. We selectively sterilized the decomposition fluid and/or soil to remove microbial communities and create different combinations of environment- and carcass-derived communities and incubated the treatments under three temperatures (10, 20, and 30 °C). Results Carcass-derived bacteria persisted in soils in our simulated decomposition scenarios, albeit at low abundances. Mixed communities had higher respiration rates at 10 and 30 °C compared to soil or carcass communities alone. Interestingly, at higher temperatures, mixed communities had reduced diversity, but higher respiration, suggesting functional redundancy. Mixed communities treatments also provided evidence that carcass-associated microbes may be contributing to ammonification and denitrification, but that nitrification is still primarily carried out by native soil organisms. Conclusions Our work yields insight into the dynamics of microbial communities that are coalescing during carcass decomposition, and how they contribute to recycling carcasses in terrestrial ecosystems. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T22:18:01Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-0a512c0df8484a71852163947488db59 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2192-1709 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T22:18:01Z |
| publishDate | 2023-09-01 |
| publisher | SpringerOpen |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Ecological Processes |
| spelling | doaj.art-0a512c0df8484a71852163947488db592023-11-19T12:23:03ZengSpringerOpenEcological Processes2192-17092023-09-0112111710.1186/s13717-023-00451-yMicrobial community coalescence and nitrogen cycling in simulated mortality decomposition hotspotsSarah W. Keenan0Alexandra L. Emmons1Jennifer M. DeBruyn2Department of Geology and Geological Engineering, South Dakota School of Mines and TechnologyDepartment of Anthropology, University of TennesseeDepartment of Biosystems Engineering and Soil Science, University of TennesseeAbstract Background The pulsed introduction of dead plant and animal material into soils represents one of the primary mechanisms for returning organic carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) compounds to biogeochemical cycles. Decomposition of animal carcasses provides a high C and N resource that stimulates indigenous environmental microbial communities and introduces non-indigenous, carcass-derived microbes to the environment. However, the dynamics of the coalesced microbial communities, and the relative contributions of environment- and carcass-derived microbes to C and N cycling are unknown. To test whether environment-derived, carcass-derived, or the combined microbial communities exhibited a greater influence on C and N cycling, we conducted controlled laboratory experiments that combined carcass decomposition fluids and soils to simulate carcass decomposition hotspots. We selectively sterilized the decomposition fluid and/or soil to remove microbial communities and create different combinations of environment- and carcass-derived communities and incubated the treatments under three temperatures (10, 20, and 30 °C). Results Carcass-derived bacteria persisted in soils in our simulated decomposition scenarios, albeit at low abundances. Mixed communities had higher respiration rates at 10 and 30 °C compared to soil or carcass communities alone. Interestingly, at higher temperatures, mixed communities had reduced diversity, but higher respiration, suggesting functional redundancy. Mixed communities treatments also provided evidence that carcass-associated microbes may be contributing to ammonification and denitrification, but that nitrification is still primarily carried out by native soil organisms. Conclusions Our work yields insight into the dynamics of microbial communities that are coalescing during carcass decomposition, and how they contribute to recycling carcasses in terrestrial ecosystems.https://doi.org/10.1186/s13717-023-00451-yCarcass decompositionMicrocosmNitrogenCarbonBiogeochemical cyclingCoalescence |
| spellingShingle | Sarah W. Keenan Alexandra L. Emmons Jennifer M. DeBruyn Microbial community coalescence and nitrogen cycling in simulated mortality decomposition hotspots Ecological Processes Carcass decomposition Microcosm Nitrogen Carbon Biogeochemical cycling Coalescence |
| title | Microbial community coalescence and nitrogen cycling in simulated mortality decomposition hotspots |
| title_full | Microbial community coalescence and nitrogen cycling in simulated mortality decomposition hotspots |
| title_fullStr | Microbial community coalescence and nitrogen cycling in simulated mortality decomposition hotspots |
| title_full_unstemmed | Microbial community coalescence and nitrogen cycling in simulated mortality decomposition hotspots |
| title_short | Microbial community coalescence and nitrogen cycling in simulated mortality decomposition hotspots |
| title_sort | microbial community coalescence and nitrogen cycling in simulated mortality decomposition hotspots |
| topic | Carcass decomposition Microcosm Nitrogen Carbon Biogeochemical cycling Coalescence |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13717-023-00451-y |
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