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Microbilogical indicators of soil quality in Araucaria Forest in São Paulo State

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Author(s):
Simone Cristina Braga Bertini
Total Authors: 1
Document type: Doctoral Thesis
Press: Piracicaba.
Institution: Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz (ESALA/BC)
Defense date:
Examining board members:
Elke Jurandy Bran Nogueira Cardoso; Carlos Clemente Cerri; Rogerio Melloni; Regina Teresa Rosim Monteiro; Adriana Parada Dias da Silveira
Advisor: Elke Jurandy Bran Nogueira Cardoso
Abstract

Araucaria angustifolia, also called Brazil Pine, is an endangered species in Brazil. It is part of one of the richest ecosystems in biodiversity, the Atlantic Forest, and little is known about the soil microbiological attributes in this forest. The objective was to evaluate the potential of the soil microbiological attributes and some environmental variables (physical-chemical properties and seasonal effect) to act as bioindicators of soil quality in Araucaria Forests. This study was undertaken in two different state parks in the São Paulo State, in Campos do Jordão county (Campos do Jordão State Park - PECJ), and in Apiaí and Iporanga counties (Alto Ribeira Touristic State Park - PETAR) and also in Barra do Chapéu county. Three areas were surveyed in PETAR: FN Native Araucaria forest, ND Native Araucaria forest with anthropogenic disturbance, and PL Reforested Araucaria; and four areas in PECJ: FN Native Araucaria forest, ND Native Araucaria forest with anthropogenic disturbance; PL Reforested Araucaria, and PF Araucaria reforestation submitted to an accidental fire. Fifteen Araucaria trees were selected at random in each area and the soil and roots were sampled at 0 20 cm depth, in two contrasting seasons (dry and wet). The microbiological attributes evaluated were: arylsulfatase (ARIL), acid phosphatase (FOSF), -glucosidase (GLIC), dehydrogenase (DESID), carbon (CBM) and nitrogen microbial biomass (NBM), most probable number (NMP) of bacterial ammonium oxidizers (AMO), nitrite oxidizers (NITRI), nitrate oxidizers (NITRA) and denitrifiers (DESN), basal microbial respiration (RESP), substrate induced respiration (RIS), and metabolic (qCO2) and microbial quotient (qMIC). Additionally we determined the phospholipid fatty acid profiles (ELPLFA) and the community level physiological profile (Biolog). Some chemical attributes were evaluated (pH, H++Al3+, Al3+, Ca2+, Mg2+, K+, P, S, CEC, C/N ratio, total organic carbon (COT), total nitrogen (NT), as well as some physical ones (soil texture: clay, sand and silt contents). There was a high correlation between the PL of PETAR and the PF of PECJ and the microbiological attributes ARIL, DESN, CBM and qMIC in both periods. The partitioning of the variability evidenced that microbial activity was influenced in a higher degree by the physical-chemical properties of soil than by study areas or periods. We identified similar fatty acid profiles in PETAR and PECJ and they were also similar to the ones found in a previous work in PECJ, what could indicate a specific EL-PLFA pattern in the Araucaria ecosystem. The fatty acids 10Me18:0 (actinobacteria), the saturated/unsaturated fatty acid ratio (sat/insat), the substrate utilization of -methyl-D-glucoside and 2-hydroxybenzoic acid were also related to PL (PETAR) and PF (PECJ), in both periods. The 18:19c fatty acid (fungi) and 16:17c (Gram-), the glucose-1-phosphate, -D-lactose and -hydroxybutyric acid were C-source for microbial communities of the impacted areas in both parks during the wet and dry periods. Therefore, these attributes are potential microbial indicators of soil quality in Araucaria forests, however, new evaluations are required to confirm these biomarkers and to monitor these areas. (AU)

FAPESP's process: 07/06943-3 - Quality of indicators of the soil in Araucaria forests in São Paulo State
Grantee:Simone Cristina Braga Bertini
Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate