Species‐specific DNA distribution in spruce–beech forest soil
Abstract Environmental DNA consists of species‐specific intracellular and extracellular fractions, whose content and information may not be similar in all environments. In forest soil, in particular, the biogeochemical fate of DNA originated by plant litter input has been extensively reviewed, but s...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2022-09-01
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| Series: | Environmental DNA |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1002/edn3.307 |
| _version_ | 1818031819526766592 |
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| author | Alessandro Foscari Giorgio Alberti Maurizio Zotti Guido Incerti |
| author_facet | Alessandro Foscari Giorgio Alberti Maurizio Zotti Guido Incerti |
| author_sort | Alessandro Foscari |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Environmental DNA consists of species‐specific intracellular and extracellular fractions, whose content and information may not be similar in all environments. In forest soil, in particular, the biogeochemical fate of DNA originated by plant litter input has been extensively reviewed, but species‐specific persistence and distribution still await to be quantified. In the present work, based on the purification of extracellular and intracellular DNA fractions from forest soil samples representing 3 soil horizons at 36 randomized locations differing for stand composition (either beech‐ or spruce‐dominated, and mixed), followed by exDNA metabarcoding with the rbcL marker, we provide a clear picture of species‐specific plant DNA distribution, and explore plant community composition and diversity along the explored gradient and the soil profile. We did not find significant differences in intra‐ vs. extracellular total DNA distribution, with a progressive depletion with soil depth positively associated with soil organic C and N content and negatively associated with soil pH and mineral content. Species‐specific DNA distribution was horizontally dependent on beech and spruce basal area aboveground, while extracellular DNA showed peculiar species‐specific vertical patterns. Proportion of Fagus sylvatica DNA increased with depth in beech stand soil, and Picea abies DNA decreased in spruce stand soil, respectively, possibly linked to species‐specific differences in leaf litter decomposition dynamics and root litter contributions. Finally, our approach by metabarcoding provided a faithful, although incomplete, picture of the local plant diversity, suggesting that such technique could positively integrate traditional biodiversity inventory studies based on expert field assessments. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-10T05:57:32Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-27d6640a51a44f839f4f6833b1e2eb7a |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2637-4943 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-10T05:57:32Z |
| publishDate | 2022-09-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Environmental DNA |
| spelling | doaj.art-27d6640a51a44f839f4f6833b1e2eb7a2022-12-22T01:59:53ZengWileyEnvironmental DNA2637-49432022-09-01451120113510.1002/edn3.307Species‐specific DNA distribution in spruce–beech forest soilAlessandro Foscari0Giorgio Alberti1Maurizio Zotti2Guido Incerti3University of Trieste Trieste ItalyDepartment of Agri‐food, Environmental and Animal Sciences University of Udine Udine ItalyDepartment of Agricultural Sciences University of Naples Federico II Portici ItalyDepartment of Agri‐food, Environmental and Animal Sciences University of Udine Udine ItalyAbstract Environmental DNA consists of species‐specific intracellular and extracellular fractions, whose content and information may not be similar in all environments. In forest soil, in particular, the biogeochemical fate of DNA originated by plant litter input has been extensively reviewed, but species‐specific persistence and distribution still await to be quantified. In the present work, based on the purification of extracellular and intracellular DNA fractions from forest soil samples representing 3 soil horizons at 36 randomized locations differing for stand composition (either beech‐ or spruce‐dominated, and mixed), followed by exDNA metabarcoding with the rbcL marker, we provide a clear picture of species‐specific plant DNA distribution, and explore plant community composition and diversity along the explored gradient and the soil profile. We did not find significant differences in intra‐ vs. extracellular total DNA distribution, with a progressive depletion with soil depth positively associated with soil organic C and N content and negatively associated with soil pH and mineral content. Species‐specific DNA distribution was horizontally dependent on beech and spruce basal area aboveground, while extracellular DNA showed peculiar species‐specific vertical patterns. Proportion of Fagus sylvatica DNA increased with depth in beech stand soil, and Picea abies DNA decreased in spruce stand soil, respectively, possibly linked to species‐specific differences in leaf litter decomposition dynamics and root litter contributions. Finally, our approach by metabarcoding provided a faithful, although incomplete, picture of the local plant diversity, suggesting that such technique could positively integrate traditional biodiversity inventory studies based on expert field assessments.https://doi.org/10.1002/edn3.307extracellular DNA purificationFagus sylvaticapermutational multivariate analysis of variancePicea abiesplant metabarcodingrbcL |
| spellingShingle | Alessandro Foscari Giorgio Alberti Maurizio Zotti Guido Incerti Species‐specific DNA distribution in spruce–beech forest soil Environmental DNA extracellular DNA purification Fagus sylvatica permutational multivariate analysis of variance Picea abies plant metabarcoding rbcL |
| title | Species‐specific DNA distribution in spruce–beech forest soil |
| title_full | Species‐specific DNA distribution in spruce–beech forest soil |
| title_fullStr | Species‐specific DNA distribution in spruce–beech forest soil |
| title_full_unstemmed | Species‐specific DNA distribution in spruce–beech forest soil |
| title_short | Species‐specific DNA distribution in spruce–beech forest soil |
| title_sort | species specific dna distribution in spruce beech forest soil |
| topic | extracellular DNA purification Fagus sylvatica permutational multivariate analysis of variance Picea abies plant metabarcoding rbcL |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1002/edn3.307 |
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