Microbial biomass in relation to primary succession on arctic deglaciated moraines

• Main Authors: Yukiko Bekku, Atsushi Kume, Takayuki Nakatsubo, Takehiro Masuzawa, Hiroshi Kanda, Hiroshi Koizumi
• Format: Report
• Language: English
• Published: Department of Biology, National Institute of Polar Research/Center for Forest Decline Studies, Faculty of Integrated Arts and Sciences, Hiroshima University/Department of Environmental Studies, Faculty of Integrated Arts and Sciences, Hiroshima University/Department Biology, Faculty of Science,Shizuoka University/Department of Biology, National Institute of Polar Research/Institute for Basin Ecosystem Studies, Gifu University 1999
• Subjects: arctic soil; microbial biomass; soil carbon and nitrogen content; primary succession; Arctic; Svalbard; Polar bioscience
• Online Access: https://nipr.repo.nii.ac.jp/?action=repository_uri&item_id=6130; http://id.nii.ac.jp/1291/00006130/; https://nipr.repo.nii.ac.jp/?action=repository_action_common_download&item_id=6130&item_no=1&attribute_id=18&file_no=1

Microbial biomass in arctic soil was examined in relation to a primary succession on arctic deglaciated moraines in Ny-Alesund, Svalbard (79°N, 12°E). Soil samples at four study sites representing different successional stages were collected at every 1cm depth from the soil surface to 3cm depth in early August 1995. Microbial biomass was measured with a substrate-induced respiration procedure. The microbial biomass was highest at the soil surface (0-1cm depth) in all successional stages, and decreased to a negligible amount at 3cm depth. Mean microbial biomass in 0-2cm layer increased from 0.06mgCg^<-1> soil d. w. in the youngest site to 1.03mgC g^<-1> soil d. w. in the oldest site, which is comparable to ecosystems in warmer regions. Throughout all successional stages, there was positive high correlation between soil carbon or nitrogen content and microbial biomass.