MAPPING HOT SPOTS OF SOIL MICROBIOME USING GIS TECHNOLOGY

Abstract

Virgin forests are unique ecosystems, which can be used as etalon for basic monitoring investigation. The paper presents the original results of research. The aim of this study was the long-term investigation of the soil microbiome in primeval forest ecosystems of Carpathian Biosphere Reserve, namely the structure of microbial communities, the number of major ecological-functional groups and determining hot spots. The Hotspots mapping is realized through GIS (Geographical Information System) technology. It was found that the structure and functional activity of soil microbiome change with altitude. Rebuilding structure of soil microbiome was fixed at altitude 555m; 776m; 1040m. The soil at an altitude of 1,040 meters above sea level was characterized by the minimum content of ammonifiers. At the altitude of 555 meters content of ammonifiers increased at six times, which indicates the accumulation of organic matter in the soil. Similar changes occurred with the number of bacteria which are using mineral forms of nitrogen for their nutrition. Their maximum quantity was in the soil of biotope disposed at an altitude of 555 meters above sea level. After 10 years, fluctuations of soil microbiota at different altitudes were the same. Long-term monitoring during the 2008-2018 years allowed determining hot spots in structural successions of the soil microbiome.