SOIL MICROBIOME OF PRIMEVAL FOREST ECOSYSTEMS IN TRANSCARPATHIA

Abstract

Оbjective. The aim of this study was to investigate the soil microbiome of primeval forest ecosystems, namely the structure of microbial communities, the number of major ecological-functional groups, functional parameters such as soil toxicity, as well as enzymatic activity of the soil by the level of catalase and invertase. To analyze the successional processes in the soil microbiocenosis due to the influence of endogenous and exogenous factors. To estimate the integrity of microbial communities in different edaphotopes of primeval forest ecosystems. Methods. Microbiological studies of soil were carried out according to generally accepted methods in soil microbiology. Enzymatic activity of the soil: catalase – was determined by gasometric method and invertase - by colorimetric method. Biotesting was used to determine soil toxicity. An assessment of the integrity of microbial communities in different edaphotopes of primeval forest ecosystems was carried out using correlation-regression analysis. Statistical analyses were performed by using Statistica 10 software. Basic descriptive statistics were calculated, that is, the arithmetic means and standard deviation. Results. Anthropogenic impact: deforestation and soil compaction led to significant negative changes in the structure of soil microbiome. It was observed in the decreasing of the functional biodiversity and the number of microorganisms. In particular, among the disturbed edaphotopes, the level of soil toxicity was increased and also the processes of decomposition of organic matter were slowed down. The level of enzymatic activity of the soil was decreased and the integrity of microbial communities of the soil was violated. Conclusions. The influence of endogenous and exogenous factors in primeval forests ecosystems violates the integrity of the soil microbiome and leads to negative changes in its functional characteristics.