Enzymatic activities and microbial communities in an Antarctic dry valley soil: Responses to C and N supplementation
The soils of the Antarctic dry valleys are exposed to extremely dry and cold conditions. Nevertheless, they contain small communities of micro-organisms that contribute to the biogeochemical transformations of the bioelements, albeit at slow rates. We have determined the dehydrogenase, β-glucosidase...
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2008
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ftunivqespace:oai:espace.library.uq.edu.au:UQ:324772 2023-05-15T13:39:41+02:00 Enzymatic activities and microbial communities in an Antarctic dry valley soil: Responses to C and N supplementation Hopkins, D.W. Sparrow, A.D. Shillam, L.L. English, L.C. Dennis, P.G. Novis, P. Elberling, B. Gregorich, E.G. Greenfield, L.G. 2008-01-01 https://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:324772 eng eng Pergamon doi:10.1016/j.soilbio.2008.03.022 issn:0038-0717 issn:1879-3428 β-Glucosidase Acid phosphatase Alkaline phosphatase Antarctica Arylsulphatase Dehydrogenase Ester-linked fatty acids Soil respiration 1111 Nutrition and Dietetics 1303 Specialist Studies in Education 2303 Ecology Journal Article 2008 ftunivqespace https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soilbio.2008.03.022 2020-10-12T23:29:36Z The soils of the Antarctic dry valleys are exposed to extremely dry and cold conditions. Nevertheless, they contain small communities of micro-organisms that contribute to the biogeochemical transformations of the bioelements, albeit at slow rates. We have determined the dehydrogenase, β-glucosidase, acid and alkaline phosphatase and arylsulphatase activities and the rates of respiration (CO2 production) in laboratory assays of soils collected from a field experiment in an Antarctic dry valley. The objective of the field experiment was to test the responses of the soil microbial community to additions of C and N in simple (glucose and NH4Cl) and complex forms (glycine and lacustrine detritus from the adjacent lake comprising principally cyanobacterial necromass). The soil samples were taken 3 years after the experimental treatments had been applied. In unamended soil, all enzyme activities and respiration were detected indicating that the enzymatic capacity to mineralize organic C, P and S compounds existed in the soil, despite the very low organic matter content. Relative to the control (unamended soil), respiration was significantly increased by all the experimental additions of C and N except the smallest NH4Cl addition (1 mg N g-1 soil) and the smallest detritus addition (1.5 mg C g-1 soil and 0.13 mg N g-1 soil). The activities of all enzymes except dehydrogenase were increased by C and combined large C (10 mg C g-1 soil) and N additions, but either unchanged or diminished by addition of either N only or N (up to 10 mg N g-1 soil) with only small C (1 mg C g-1 soil) additions in the form of glucose and NH4Cl. This suggests that in the presence of a large amount of N, the C supply for enzyme biosynthesis was limited. When normalized with respect to soil respiration, only arylsulphatase per unit of respiration showed a significant increase with C and N additions as glucose and NH4Cl, consistent with S limitation when C and N limitations have been alleviated. Based on the positive responses of enzyme activity, detritus appeared to provide either conditions or resources which led to a larger biological response than a similar amount of C and more N added in the form of defined compounds (glucose, NH4Cl or glycine). Assessment of the soil microbial community by ester-linked fatty acid (ELFA) analysis provided no evidence of changes in the community structure as a result of the C and N supplementation treatments. Thus the respiration and enzyme activity responses to supplementation occurred in an apparently structurally stable or unresponsive microbial community. Article in Journal/Newspaper Antarc* Antarctic Antarctica The University of Queensland: UQ eSpace Antarctic The Antarctic Soil Biology and Biochemistry 40 9 2130 2136 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
The University of Queensland: UQ eSpace |
op_collection_id |
ftunivqespace |
language |
English |
topic |
β-Glucosidase Acid phosphatase Alkaline phosphatase Antarctica Arylsulphatase Dehydrogenase Ester-linked fatty acids Soil respiration 1111 Nutrition and Dietetics 1303 Specialist Studies in Education 2303 Ecology |
spellingShingle |
β-Glucosidase Acid phosphatase Alkaline phosphatase Antarctica Arylsulphatase Dehydrogenase Ester-linked fatty acids Soil respiration 1111 Nutrition and Dietetics 1303 Specialist Studies in Education 2303 Ecology Hopkins, D.W. Sparrow, A.D. Shillam, L.L. English, L.C. Dennis, P.G. Novis, P. Elberling, B. Gregorich, E.G. Greenfield, L.G. Enzymatic activities and microbial communities in an Antarctic dry valley soil: Responses to C and N supplementation |
topic_facet |
β-Glucosidase Acid phosphatase Alkaline phosphatase Antarctica Arylsulphatase Dehydrogenase Ester-linked fatty acids Soil respiration 1111 Nutrition and Dietetics 1303 Specialist Studies in Education 2303 Ecology |
description |
The soils of the Antarctic dry valleys are exposed to extremely dry and cold conditions. Nevertheless, they contain small communities of micro-organisms that contribute to the biogeochemical transformations of the bioelements, albeit at slow rates. We have determined the dehydrogenase, β-glucosidase, acid and alkaline phosphatase and arylsulphatase activities and the rates of respiration (CO2 production) in laboratory assays of soils collected from a field experiment in an Antarctic dry valley. The objective of the field experiment was to test the responses of the soil microbial community to additions of C and N in simple (glucose and NH4Cl) and complex forms (glycine and lacustrine detritus from the adjacent lake comprising principally cyanobacterial necromass). The soil samples were taken 3 years after the experimental treatments had been applied. In unamended soil, all enzyme activities and respiration were detected indicating that the enzymatic capacity to mineralize organic C, P and S compounds existed in the soil, despite the very low organic matter content. Relative to the control (unamended soil), respiration was significantly increased by all the experimental additions of C and N except the smallest NH4Cl addition (1 mg N g-1 soil) and the smallest detritus addition (1.5 mg C g-1 soil and 0.13 mg N g-1 soil). The activities of all enzymes except dehydrogenase were increased by C and combined large C (10 mg C g-1 soil) and N additions, but either unchanged or diminished by addition of either N only or N (up to 10 mg N g-1 soil) with only small C (1 mg C g-1 soil) additions in the form of glucose and NH4Cl. This suggests that in the presence of a large amount of N, the C supply for enzyme biosynthesis was limited. When normalized with respect to soil respiration, only arylsulphatase per unit of respiration showed a significant increase with C and N additions as glucose and NH4Cl, consistent with S limitation when C and N limitations have been alleviated. Based on the positive responses of enzyme activity, detritus appeared to provide either conditions or resources which led to a larger biological response than a similar amount of C and more N added in the form of defined compounds (glucose, NH4Cl or glycine). Assessment of the soil microbial community by ester-linked fatty acid (ELFA) analysis provided no evidence of changes in the community structure as a result of the C and N supplementation treatments. Thus the respiration and enzyme activity responses to supplementation occurred in an apparently structurally stable or unresponsive microbial community. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Hopkins, D.W. Sparrow, A.D. Shillam, L.L. English, L.C. Dennis, P.G. Novis, P. Elberling, B. Gregorich, E.G. Greenfield, L.G. |
author_facet |
Hopkins, D.W. Sparrow, A.D. Shillam, L.L. English, L.C. Dennis, P.G. Novis, P. Elberling, B. Gregorich, E.G. Greenfield, L.G. |
author_sort |
Hopkins, D.W. |
title |
Enzymatic activities and microbial communities in an Antarctic dry valley soil: Responses to C and N supplementation |
title_short |
Enzymatic activities and microbial communities in an Antarctic dry valley soil: Responses to C and N supplementation |
title_full |
Enzymatic activities and microbial communities in an Antarctic dry valley soil: Responses to C and N supplementation |
title_fullStr |
Enzymatic activities and microbial communities in an Antarctic dry valley soil: Responses to C and N supplementation |
title_full_unstemmed |
Enzymatic activities and microbial communities in an Antarctic dry valley soil: Responses to C and N supplementation |
title_sort |
enzymatic activities and microbial communities in an antarctic dry valley soil: responses to c and n supplementation |
publisher |
Pergamon |
publishDate |
2008 |
url |
https://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:324772 |
geographic |
Antarctic The Antarctic |
geographic_facet |
Antarctic The Antarctic |
genre |
Antarc* Antarctic Antarctica |
genre_facet |
Antarc* Antarctic Antarctica |
op_relation |
doi:10.1016/j.soilbio.2008.03.022 issn:0038-0717 issn:1879-3428 |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soilbio.2008.03.022 |
container_title |
Soil Biology and Biochemistry |
container_volume |
40 |
container_issue |
9 |
container_start_page |
2130 |
op_container_end_page |
2136 |
_version_ |
1766122189370687488 |