Potential impacts of clear-felling on microbial activities in boreal humus and mineral soil layers

Changes affecting the microbial activity in boreal coniferous forest humus and mineral soil layers after clear-felling were investigated by studying exoenzyme activities, microbial colony counts and community level physiological profiles, CLPPs. A recently clear-felled site and an old clear-felled s...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Boreal environment research 2008-01, Vol.13 (6), p.525-538
Main Authors: HERNESMAA, Anne, BJÖRKÖF, Katarina, JORGENSEN, Kirsten S, HAAHTELA, Kielo, ROMANTSCHUK, Martin
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animal and plant ecology
Animal, plant and microbial ecology
Biological and medical sciences
Earth sciences
Earth, ocean, space
Exact sciences and technology
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
General aspects
Marine and continental quaternary
Surficial geology
Synecology
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Summary:Changes affecting the microbial activity in boreal coniferous forest humus and mineral soil layers after clear-felling were investigated by studying exoenzyme activities, microbial colony counts and community level physiological profiles, CLPPs. A recently clear-felled site and an old clear-felled site were compared with a standing forest site. The activities of exoenzymes in the humus layer increased 12 months after clear-felling. During this period, the amount of fungi increased in the humus layer as compared with that in the standing forest soil. The utilization potential of carbohydrates increased more than the utilization potential of amino acids and carboxylic acids in the humus layer of the new felled site. Immediate effects in the humus layer were followed by a 1-year delay of minor effects in the mineral layer. We showed that instant structural polymer degradation is initiated by a burst of exoenzymes in the humus layer. This effect was still observed in the old felled site seven years after felling.
ISSN:1239-6095
1797-2469