Maria Rocco EBIO 4100 Winter Ecology Spring 2012 Mountain Research Station University of Colorado Boulder Outline Background Hypothesis Methods Results Analysis Conclusions Future Research ID: 710850
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Microbial Respiration in Soil Surrounding Aspen Trees
Maria Rocco
EBIO 4100: Winter Ecology: Spring 2012
"Mountain Research Station, University of Colorado, Boulder"Slide2
Outline
Background
Hypothesis
Methods
Results
Analysis
Conclusions
Future ResearchSlide3
Background
Seasonal Changes in Alpine Soil Community
1
Changing populations throughout year, larger populations of soil microbes during winter months
Not only are populations larger but species diversity changes seasonally due to changing environmental considerations
Summer : PhototrophyWinter: cold tolerant and rely on celluloseMacroinvertebrate Presence in Soil with increased litter and organic matter2
Seasonal fluctuations of microbial biomass and available Nitrogen
3Slide4
Background
Initial goal to examine presence of macroinvertebrates in soil, specifically looking at their presence in relation to tree growth and temperature gradients
CO2 flux primarily relates information about soil microbes
CO2 as a measure of soil respiration
Aspen trees
Higher N rich litter in aspen leaves Overall Research Goal: Begin to examine possible behavioral adaptations of soil biota to winter environmentsSlide5
Hypothesis
Soil temperatures further from the base of the tree will be colder than those closer to the trunk.
The rate of respiration decreases in soil further from an aspen tree.Slide6
Methods
Measured 3 distances from Aspen Tree for five sites
Took measurements at ground level
Measured respiration rates and soil temperature using: Soil CO2 flux system
(X57/SRC1-CO2 FLUX)Slide7
Results
Analyzing CO2 change as a function of time
Convert CO2 change to CO2 flux
Compare different trials looking for outlier data sets
Compare different distances from tree to see if CO2 flux changes with distanceSlide8
0 cm from Tree TrunkSlide9
10 cm from Tree TrunkSlide10
ResultsSlide11
ResultsSlide12
Analysis
Appears to be no significant difference between the distance from tree and soil respiration.
Analysis on a larger scale may be necessary as root systems may extend further from the tree than 1 m
This may have been a large contributing factor as aspen root systems are very extensive.Slide13
Conclusions/Future Questions
What components of the soil microbes/macroinvertebrates’ genome deal with extreme temperatures and cold tolerance?
The possibility that photosynthesis is and could be taking place in soil, under snow during winter months
What other factors play a role in macroinvertebrate and microbe presence in the winter?
Tree type
Root systems?Moisture levels?Aspect?Slide14
References
1
Lipson, D. A., and S. K. Schmidt. "Seasonal Changes in an Alpine Soil Bacterial Community in the Colorado Rocky Mountains."
Applied and Environmental Microbiology
70.5 (2004): 2867-879. Print.
2Negrete-Yankelevich, Simoneta. "Integrating Soil Macroinvertebrate Diversity, Litter Decomposition and Secondary Succession in a Tropical Montane Cloud Forest in Mexico." Global Change Research Institute PhD Thesis Collection (2004).Edinburgh Research Archive. Web. 24 Feb. 2012. <http://www.era.lib.ed.ac.uk/handle/1842/592>.3Schmidt, S.K. and D.A. Lipson. 2004. Microbial growth under the snow; Implications for nutrient and alleochemical availability in temperate soils. Plant and Soil 259: 1-7. Slide15
Questions?