Changes in nitrogen functional genes and microbial populations in soil profiles of a peatland under different burning regimes

Journal article


Allingham, S., Drake, S., Ramsey, A., Field, C.D., Nwaishi, F.C. and Elliott, D. 2024. Changes in nitrogen functional genes and microbial populations in soil profiles of a peatland under different burning regimes. Applied Soil Ecology. 200, pp. 1-13. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apsoil.2024.105426
AuthorsAllingham, S., Drake, S., Ramsey, A., Field, C.D., Nwaishi, F.C. and Elliott, D.
Abstract

Microbes in peatlands provide key ecosystem services and are essential for their role in biogeochemical cycling. Prescribed burning is a common aspect of peatland management but the practice has been criticized for being ecologically damaging due to its effect on the biological, chemical and physical properties of the soil. It is poorly understood how burning affects soil N cycling and previous studies have focused predominantly on the topsoil whilst giving less attention to changes with soil depth. This study investigated the changes of microbial abundance (bacterial 16S rRNA and fungal 18S rRNA) and the abundance of N-cycle functional genes involved in archaeal and bacterial ammonia oxidation (amoA-AOA and amoA-AOB), denitrification (nirK and nirS), N fixation (nifH) and organic N decomposition (chiA) in soil profiles across three burn treatments on a managed peatland landscape (a ‘non-burn’ since 1954 control, 20 years burn interval, and 10 years burn interval). Our results indicate the abundance of bacterial 16S rRNA and fungal 18s rRNA was affected by burn treatment, soil depth and their interaction and were greater in the non-burn control plots. The abundances of amoA-AOA, amoA-AOB, and nifH were significantly higher in the topsoil of the non-burn control plots while the abundance of nirK was higher in plots subject to short rotation and long rotation burn regimes but also decreased significantly with soil depth. The abundance of nirS was not affected by burn treatment or soil depth. ChiA abundance was affected by burn treatment, soil depth and their interaction. N-cycle functional gene abundance responded differently to environmental factors associated with prescribed burning and varied with soil depth. These findings suggest that the practice of burning affects microbial N turnover potential and provides an important insight into the soil N-cycling potential of peatlands under different burning regimes.

KeywordsPeatlands; Biogeochemical cycling; Prescribed burning; N cycling; N functioning genes
Year2024
JournalApplied Soil Ecology
Journal citation200, pp. 1-13
PublisherElsevier
ISSN 1873-0272
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apsoil.2024.105426
Web address (URL)https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0929139324001574
FunderUniversity of Derby
Publisher's version
License
File Access Level
Open
Output statusPublished
Publication dates
Online08 May 2024
Publication process dates
Accepted29 Apr 2024
Deposited15 May 2024
Permalink -

https://repository.derby.ac.uk/item/q632x/changes-in-nitrogen-functional-genes-and-microbial-populations-in-soil-profiles-of-a-peatland-under-different-burning-regimes

Download files


Publisher's version
1-s2.0-S0929139324001574-main.pdf
License: CC BY 4.0
File access level: Open

  • 29
    total views
  • 27
    total downloads
  • 1
    views this month
  • 2
    downloads this month

Export as

Related outputs

Effects of burning on vegetation, soil physicochemistry and prokaryotic microbial communities in surface and subsurface peat
Shaun M. Allingham, Samantha J. Drake, Andrew Ramsey, Chris D. Field, Felix C. Nwaishi and Elliott, D. 2024. Effects of burning on vegetation, soil physicochemistry and prokaryotic microbial communities in surface and subsurface peat. Science of The Total Environment. 956, pp. 1-17. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.177318
Cast from the Past? Microbial Diversity of a Neolithic Stone Circle
Mercedes Martín-Cereceda, Amaya de Cos-Gandoy, Richard A. J. Williams, David Elliott, Andrea Serrano-Bellón, Blanca Pérez-Uz and Abel Sanchez-Jimenez 2024. Cast from the Past? Microbial Diversity of a Neolithic Stone Circle. Microorganisms. 12 (11). https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms12112338
A comprehensive toxicological analysis of panel of unregulated e-cigarettes to human health
Guraka, A., Mierlea, S., Drake, S., Shawa, T. S., Waldron, S., Corcoran, M., Dowse, D., Walkman, D., Burn, L., Sivasubramaniam, S. and Kermanizadeh, A. 2024. A comprehensive toxicological analysis of panel of unregulated e-cigarettes to human health. Toxicology. 509, pp. 1-12. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tox.2024.153964
Editorial: Biological soil crusts: spatio-temporal development and ecological functions of soil surface microbial communities across different scales
Lan, S., Elliott, D., Chamizo, S., Felde, V. J. and Thomas, A.D. 2024. Editorial: Biological soil crusts: spatio-temporal development and ecological functions of soil surface microbial communities across different scales. Frontiers in Microbiology. 15, pp. 1-6. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2024.1447058
Spatial organisation of fungi in soil biocrusts of the Kalahari is related to bacterial community structure and may indicate ecological functions of fungi in drylands
Elliott, D., Thomas, A. D., Hoon, S. R. and Sen, R. S. 2024. Spatial organisation of fungi in soil biocrusts of the Kalahari is related to bacterial community structure and may indicate ecological functions of fungi in drylands. Frontiers in Microbiology. 15, pp. 1-11. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2024.1173637
Bio-protection of cementitious materials below ground: The significance of natural soil environments
Hamza, O., Esaker, M., Abogdera, A. and Elliott, D. 2024. Bio-protection of cementitious materials below ground: The significance of natural soil environments. Developments in the Built Environment. 17, pp. 1-12. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dibe.2024.100331
Bio-self-healing of cementitious mortar incubated within clay soil
Esaker, M., Hamza, O. and Elliott, D. 2023. Bio-self-healing of cementitious mortar incubated within clay soil. Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering. 36 (1). https://doi.org/10.1061/JMCEE7.MTENG-15713
Monitoring the bio-self-healing performance of cement mortar incubated within soil and water using electrical resistivity
Esaker, M., Hamza, O. and Elliott, D. 2023. Monitoring the bio-self-healing performance of cement mortar incubated within soil and water using electrical resistivity . Construction and Building Materials. 393, pp. 1-11. https://doi.org//10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2023.132109
Aspects of microbial communities in peatland carbon cycling under changing climate and land use pressures
Clare H. Robinson, Jonathan P. Ritson, Danielle M. Alderson, Ashish A. Malik, Robert I. Griffiths, Andreas Heinemeyer, Angela V. Gallego-Sala, Anne Quillet, Bjorn J.M. Robroek, Chris Evans, Dave M. Chandler, David R. Elliott, Emma L. Shutttleworth, Erik A. Lilleskov, Ezra Kitson, Filipa Cox, Fred Worrall, Gareth D. Clay, Ian Crosher, Jennifer Pratscher, Jon Bird, Jonathan Walker, Lisa R. Belyea, Marc G. Dumont, Nichole G.A. Bell, Rebekka R.E. Artz, Richard D. Bardgett, Roxane Andersen, Simon M. Hutchinson, Susan E. Page, Tim J. Thom, William Burn, Martin G. Evans and Elliott, D. 2023. Aspects of microbial communities in peatland carbon cycling under changing climate and land use pressures. Mires and Peat. 29, pp. 1-36. https://doi.org/10.19189/map.2022.omb.sta.2404
Microbial communities and biogeochemical functioning across peatlands in the Athabasca Oil Sands region of Canada: Implications for reclamation and management
Shaun M Allingham, Felix C Nwaishi, Roxane Andersen, Louis J Lamit and Elliott, D. 2022. Microbial communities and biogeochemical functioning across peatlands in the Athabasca Oil Sands region of Canada: Implications for reclamation and management. Land Degradation & Development. pp. 1-18. https://doi.org/10.1002/ldr.4549
Nanomaterial-induced toxicity in pathophysiological models representative of individuals with pre-existing medical conditions
Sreejesh Sreedharan, Zouganelis, G., Samantha J Drake, Gyanendra Tripathi and Ali Kermanizadeh 2022. Nanomaterial-induced toxicity in pathophysiological models representative of individuals with pre-existing medical conditions. Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health, Part B: Critical Reviews. pp. 1-27. https://doi.org/10.1080/10937404.2022.2153456
Development and validation of anti-human Alpha synuclein DNA aptamer using computer modelling techniques—an in silico study
Rock, M., Zouganelis, G., Belchior de Andrade, A., Drake, S., Alexiou, A., Albrakati, A., Bathia, G. E. S. and Illingworth, T. 2022. Development and validation of anti-human Alpha synuclein DNA aptamer using computer modelling techniques—an in silico study. Journal of Integrative Neuroscience. 21 (1), p. 5. https://doi.org/10.31083/j.jin2101005
Definitions of biodiversity from urban gardeners
Norton, Briony, A., Shang, Bowen, Sheffield, David and Ramsey, Andrew 2021. Definitions of biodiversity from urban gardeners. Journal of Urban Ecology. https://doi.org/10.1093/jue/juab005
Oxygen consumption during digestion in Anodonta anatina and Unio pictorum in response to algal concentration
Zapitis, Charitos, Huck, Maren and Ramsey, Andrew 2021. Oxygen consumption during digestion in Anodonta anatina and Unio pictorum in response to algal concentration. Hydrobiologia. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-021-04559-0
Towards a microbial process-based understanding of the resilience of peatland ecosystem service provisioning – A research agenda
Ritson, J.P., Elliott, D., Alderson, D.M., Robinson, C.H, Burkitt, A.E., Heinemeyer, A., Stimson, A.G., Gallego-Sala, A., Harris, A., Quillet, A., Malik, A.A. and Cole, B. 2021. Towards a microbial process-based understanding of the resilience of peatland ecosystem service provisioning – A research agenda. Science of The Total Environment. 759, pp. 1-9. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.143467
Self-healing of bio-cementitious mortar incubated within neutral and acidic soil
Esaker, Mohamed, Hamza, Omar, Souid, Adam and Elliott, D. 2021. Self-healing of bio-cementitious mortar incubated within neutral and acidic soil. Materials and Structures. 54 (2), pp. 1-16. https://doi.org/10.1617/s11527-021-01690-1
Soil biocrusts affect metabolic response to hydration on dunes in west Queensland, Australia
Thomas, Andrew D., Elliott, D., Hardcastle, David, Strong, Craig L., Bullard, Joanna, Webster, Richard and Lan, Shubin 2021. Soil biocrusts affect metabolic response to hydration on dunes in west Queensland, Australia. Geoderma. 405, pp. 1-10. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geoderma.2021.115464
Methane production and oxidation potentials along a fen‐bog gradient from southern boreal to subarctic peatlands in Finland
Zhang, Hui, Tuittila, Eeva‐Stiina, Korrensalo, Aino, Laine, Anna M., Uljas, Salli, Welti, Nina, Kerttula, Johanna, Maljanen, Marja, Elliott, D., Vesala, Timo and Lohila, Annalea 2021. Methane production and oxidation potentials along a fen‐bog gradient from southern boreal to subarctic peatlands in Finland. Global Change Biology. 27, p. 4449–4464. https://doi.org/10.1111/gcb.15740
Active microbial ecosystem in glacier basal ice fuelled by iron and silicate comminution‐derived hydrogen
Toubes‐Rodrigo, Mario, Potgieter‐Vermaak, Sanja, Sen, Robin, Oddsdóttir, Edda S., Elliott, D. and Cook, Simon 2021. Active microbial ecosystem in glacier basal ice fuelled by iron and silicate comminution‐derived hydrogen. MicrobiologyOpen. 10 (4), pp. 1-13. https://doi.org/10.1002/mbo3.1200
Substrate parameters affecting propagation of juvenile freshwater pearl mussels margaritifera margaritifera (bivalvia: margaritiferidae)
Lavictoire, Louise, Notman, Gill, Pentecost, Allan, Moorkens, Evelyn, Ramsey, Andrew and Sweeting, Roger A. 2020. Substrate parameters affecting propagation of juvenile freshwater pearl mussels margaritifera margaritifera (bivalvia: margaritiferidae). Journal of Conchology.
The effect of soil incubation on bio self-healing of cementitious mortar
Hamza, Omar, Esaker, Mohamed, Elliott, D. and Souid, A. 2020. The effect of soil incubation on bio self-healing of cementitious mortar. Materials Today Communications. 24, pp. 1-9. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mtcomm.2020.100988
Effects of vegetation on bacterial communities, carbon and nitrogen in dryland soil surfaces: implications for shrub encroachment in the southwest Kalahari
Thomas, Andrew D., Tooth, Stephen, Wu, Li and Elliott, D. 2020. Effects of vegetation on bacterial communities, carbon and nitrogen in dryland soil surfaces: implications for shrub encroachment in the southwest Kalahari. Science of The Total Environment. 764, pp. 1-11. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.142847
Compositional homogeneity in the pathobiome of a new, slow-spreading coral disease
Sweet, Michael, Burian, Alfred, Fifer, James, Bulling, Mark, Elliott, D. and Raymundo, Laurie 2019. Compositional homogeneity in the pathobiome of a new, slow-spreading coral disease. Microbiome. 7 (1), pp. 1-14. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40168-019-0759-6
Surface stability in drylands is influenced by dispersal strategy of soil bacteria
Elliott, D., Thomas, Andrew D., Strong, Craig L. and Bullard, Joanna 2019. Surface stability in drylands is influenced by dispersal strategy of soil bacteria. Journal of Geophysical Research: Biogeosciences. pp. 1-16. https://doi.org/10.1029/2018jg004932
Experimental data of bio self-healing concrete incubated in saturated natural soil
Souid, A., Esaker, M., Elliott, D. and Hamza, Omar 2019. Experimental data of bio self-healing concrete incubated in saturated natural soil. Data in Brief. 26, pp. 1-11. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dib.2019.104394
Ontogeny of juvenile freshwater pearl mussels, Margaritifera margaritifera (Bivalvia: Margaritiferidae).
Lavictoire, Louise, Ramsey, Andrew, Moorkens, Evelyn, Souch, Graham and Barnhart, M. Christopher 2018. Ontogeny of juvenile freshwater pearl mussels, Margaritifera margaritifera (Bivalvia: Margaritiferidae). PLos ONE. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0193637
The impact of freshwater mussels (order Unionoida) on river bed characteristics and sediment flux: A flume-based study.
Leng, Andrea, Davies-Vollum, S. and Ramsey, Andrew 2018. The impact of freshwater mussels (order Unionoida) on river bed characteristics and sediment flux: A flume-based study.
The influence of trees, shrubs, and grasses on microclimate, soil carbon, nitrogen, and CO2 efflux: Potential implications of shrub encroachment for Kalahari rangelands.
Thomas, Andrew David, Elliott, D., Dougill, Andrew John, Stringer, Lindsay Carman, Hoon, Stephen Robert and Sen, Robin 2018. The influence of trees, shrubs, and grasses on microclimate, soil carbon, nitrogen, and CO2 efflux: Potential implications of shrub encroachment for Kalahari rangelands. Land Degradation & Development. 29 (5), pp. 1-11. https://doi.org/10.1002/ldr.2918
Symbiotic microbes from marine invertebrates: Driving a new era of natural product drug discovery.
Blockley, Alix, Elliott, D., Roberts, Adam and Sweet, Michael J. 2017. Symbiotic microbes from marine invertebrates: Driving a new era of natural product drug discovery. Diversity. 9 (4), pp. 1-13. https://doi.org/10.3390/d9040049
Detecting macroecological patterns in bacterial communities across independent studies of global soils.
Ramirez, Kelly S., Knight, Christopher G., de Hollander, Mattias, Brearley, Francis Q., Constantinides, Bede, Cotton, Anne, Creer, Si, Crowther, Thomas W., Davison, John, Delgado-Baquerizo, Manuel, Dorrepaal, Ellen, Elliott, D., Fox, Graeme, Griffiths, Robert I., Hale, Chris, Hartman, Kyle, Houlden, Ashley, Jones, David L., Krab, Eveline J., Maestre, Fernando T., McGuire, Krista L., Monteux, Sylvain, Orr, Caroline H., van der Putten, Wim H., Roberts, Ian S., Robinson, David A., Rocca, Jennifer D., Rowntree, Jennifer, Schlaeppi, Klaus, Shepherd, Matthew, Singh, Brajesh K., Straathof, Angela L., Bhatnagar, Jennifer M., Thion, Cécile, van der Heijden, Marcel G. A. and de Vries, Franciska T. 2017. Detecting macroecological patterns in bacterial communities across independent studies of global soils. Nature Microbiology. 3, p. 189–196. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41564-017-0062-x
An expression of multiple values: The relationship between community, landscape and natural resource
Smith, Darrell, Convery, Ian, Ramsey, Andrew and Kouloumpis, Viktor 2016. An expression of multiple values: The relationship between community, landscape and natural resource. Rural Landscapes: Society, Environment, History. https://doi.org/10.16993/rl.31
Conserving natural heritage: shifting perceptions of culture and nature.
Smith, Darrell, Convery, Ian, Ramsey, Andrew and Kouloumpis, Viktor 2016. Conserving natural heritage: shifting perceptions of culture and nature. in: Boydell Press.
Sampling and Describing Glacier Ice
Toubes-Rodrigo, Mario, Cook, Simon J., Elliott, D. and Sen, Robin 2016. Sampling and Describing Glacier Ice. in: British Society for Geomorphology.
Arbuscular mycorrhizal community structure on co-existing tropical legume trees in French Guiana
Brearley, Francis Q., Elliott, D., Iribar, Amaia and Sen, Robin 2016. Arbuscular mycorrhizal community structure on co-existing tropical legume trees in French Guiana. Plant and Soil. 403, p. 253–265. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-016-2818-0
Effects of substrate size and cleaning regime on growth and survival of captive-bred juvenile freshwater pearl mussels, Margaritifera margaritifera (Linnaeus, 1758)
Lavictoire, Louise, Sinclair, William, Sweeting, Roger A., Moorkens, Evelyn and Ramsey, Andrew 2015. Effects of substrate size and cleaning regime on growth and survival of captive-bred juvenile freshwater pearl mussels, Margaritifera margaritifera (Linnaeus, 1758). Hydrobiologia. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-015-2445-4
Defining Landscape Resistance Values in Least-Cost Connectivity Models for the Invasive Grey Squirrel: A Comparison of Approaches Using Expert-Opinion and Habitat Suitability Modelling
Stevenson, Claire D., Watts, Kevin, Bellamy, Chloe, Nevin, Owen T. and Ramsey, Andrew 2014. Defining Landscape Resistance Values in Least-Cost Connectivity Models for the Invasive Grey Squirrel: A Comparison of Approaches Using Expert-Opinion and Habitat Suitability Modelling. PLos ONE. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0112119
Scent-marking investment and motor patterns are affected by the age and sex of wild brown bears
Clapham, Melanie, Nevin, Owen T., Rosell, Frank and Ramsey, Andrew 2014. Scent-marking investment and motor patterns are affected by the age and sex of wild brown bears. Animal Behaviour. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.anbehav.2014.05.017
Pastoralism and Kalahari Rangeland Soils
Thomas, A.D., Elliott, D., Griffith, T.N.L. and Mairs, H. 2015. Pastoralism and Kalahari Rangeland Soils. in: Brearley, F. Q. and Thomas, A. D. (ed.) Land-Use Change Impacts On Soil Processes: Tropical And Savannah Ecosystems Wallingford CABI. pp. 122-132
Bacterial and fungal communities in a degraded ombrotrophic peatland undergoing natural and managed re-vegetation
Elliott, D., Caporn, S., Nwaishi, F., Nilsson, R. H. and Sen, R. 2015. Bacterial and fungal communities in a degraded ombrotrophic peatland undergoing natural and managed re-vegetation. PLos ONE. 10 (5), pp. 1-20. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0124726
Seasonal differences in soil CO2 efflux and carbon storage in Ntwetwe Pan, Makgadikgadi Basin, Botswana
Thomas, Andrew D., Dougill, Andrew J., Elliott, D. and Mairs, Helen 2014. Seasonal differences in soil CO2 efflux and carbon storage in Ntwetwe Pan, Makgadikgadi Basin, Botswana. Geoderma. 219-220. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geoderma.2013.12.028
Niche partitioning of bacterial communities in biological crusts and soils under grasses, shrubs and trees in the Kalahari
Elliott, D., Thomas, Andrew David, Hoon, Steve R. and Sen, Robin 2014. Niche partitioning of bacterial communities in biological crusts and soils under grasses, shrubs and trees in the Kalahari. Biodiversity and conservation. 23, p. 1709–1733. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10531-014-0684-8
The impacts of commercial woodland management on butterfly biodiversity.
Taylor, Donna L., Ramsey, Andrew, Convery, Ian, Lawrence, Anna and Weatheral, Andrew 2013. The impacts of commercial woodland management on butterfly biodiversity. Conservation Evidence.
Changing place: palm oil and sense of place in Borneo
Lindsay, Ellie, Convery, Ian, Ramsey, Andrew and Simmons, Eunice 2012. Changing place: palm oil and sense of place in Borneo. Human Geographies – Journal of Studies and Research in Human Geography. https://doi.org/10.5719/hgeo.2012.62.45
The function of strategic tree selectivity in the chemical signalling of brown bears
Clapham, Melanie, Nevin, Owen T., Ramsey, Andrew and Rosell, Frank 2013. The function of strategic tree selectivity in the chemical signalling of brown bears. Animal Behaviour. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.anbehav.2013.03.026
A hypothetico-deductive approach to assessing the social function of chemical signalling in a non-territorial solitary carnivore
Clapham, Melanie, Nevin, Owen T., Ramsey, Andrew, Rosell, Frank and Renou, Michel 2012. A hypothetico-deductive approach to assessing the social function of chemical signalling in a non-territorial solitary carnivore. PLos ONE. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0035404
Using GPS telemetry to validate least-cost modeling of gray squirrel ( Sciurus carolinensis) movement within a fragmented landscape
Stevenson, Claire D., Ferryman, Mark, Nevin, Owen T., Ramsey, Andrew, Bailey, Sallie and Watts, Kevin 2013. Using GPS telemetry to validate least-cost modeling of gray squirrel ( Sciurus carolinensis) movement within a fragmented landscape. Ecology and Evolution. https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.638
Assessing grey squirrel dispersal patterns within the landscape using sequence variation
Stevenson, Claire D., Ramsey, Andrew, Nevin, Owen T. and Sinclair, William 2012. Assessing grey squirrel dispersal patterns within the landscape using sequence variation. Landscape Research. https://doi.org/10.1080/01426397.2012.668179
Diversity of Planktonic and Attached Bacterial Communities in a Phenol-Contaminated Sandstone Aquifer
Rizoulis, Athanasios, Elliott, D., Rolfe, Stephen. A, Thornton, Steven. F, Banwart, Steven. A, Pickup, Roger. W and Scholes, Julie. D 2013. Diversity of Planktonic and Attached Bacterial Communities in a Phenol-Contaminated Sandstone Aquifer. Microbial Ecology. 66, p. 84–95. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00248-013-0233-0