Do land utilization patterns a ect methanotrophic communities ina Chinese upland red soil?
Yong Zheng , Xinzhan Liu , Limei Zhang , Zhifeng Zhou , Jizheng He
DOI:
Received December 06, 2009,Revised January 21, 2010, Accepted , Available online
Volume 22,2010,Pages 1936-1943
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Soil samples were collected from three plots under di erent land utilization patterns including degradation, farming, and restoration.
The abundances of methanotrophs were quantified using real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) based on the pmoA and 16S
rRNA genes, and the community fingerprint was analyzed using denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) aiming at pmoA
gene. Significantly lower 16S rRNA and pmoA genes copies were found in the degradation treatment than in farming and restoration.
Higher abundances of Type I than those of Type II methanotrophs were detected in all treatments. The treatment of farming was
clearly separated from degradation and restoration according to the DGGE profile by cluster analysis. The lowest diversity indices
were observed in the F (farming plot), suggesting that the community structure was strongly a ected by farming activities. There were
significantly positive correlations between the copy numbers of pmoA also Type II-related 16S rRNA genes and soil available K content.
Strong negative and positive correlations were found between Type I and soil pH, and available P content, respectively. We concluded
that the vegetation cover or not, soil characteristics including pH and nutrients of P and K as a result of anthropogenic disturbance may
be key factors a ecting methanotrophic communities in upland soil.
