Rainforest conversion to rubber plantation may not result in lower soil diversity of bacteria, fungi, and nematodes
Large areas of rainforest in Asia have been converted to plantations, with uncertain effects on soil biodiversity. Using standard metagenetic methods, we compared the soil biota of bacteria, fungi, and nematodes at three rainforest sites in Malaysia with two rubber plantation sites with similar soil...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Springer Verlag
2016
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| Online Access: | http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/53720/ http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/53720/1/Rainforest%20conversion%20to%20rubber%20plantation%20may%20not%20result%20in%20lower%20soil%20diversity%20of%20bacteria%2C%20fungi%2C%20and%20nematodes.pdf |
| _version_ | 1848852358599016448 |
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| author | Kerfahi, Dorsaf Tripathi, Binu Mani Dong, Ke Go, Rusea Adams, Jonathan M. |
| author_facet | Kerfahi, Dorsaf Tripathi, Binu Mani Dong, Ke Go, Rusea Adams, Jonathan M. |
| author_sort | Kerfahi, Dorsaf |
| building | UPM Institutional Repository |
| collection | Online Access |
| description | Large areas of rainforest in Asia have been converted to plantations, with uncertain effects on soil biodiversity. Using standard metagenetic methods, we compared the soil biota of bacteria, fungi, and nematodes at three rainforest sites in Malaysia with two rubber plantation sites with similar soils and geology. We predicted the following: (1) that the rubber sites would have a lower α- and β-diversity than the rainforest sites, due to the monospecific canopy cover and intensive management with herbicides, pesticides, and fertilizers, and (2) that due to differences in the physical and biotic environment associated with cultivation, there would be distinct communities of bacteria, fungi, and nematodes. However, regarding (1), the results showed no consistent difference in α- and β-diversity of bacteria, fungi, or nematodes between rainforest and rubber plantation sites. It appears that conversion of rainforest to rubber plantations does not necessarily result in a decrease in diversity of soil biota. It may be that heterogeneity associated with the cultivation regimen compensates for loss of biotically imposed heterogeneity of the original rainforest. Regarding (2), as predicted there were statistically significant differences in community composition between rainforest and rubber plantation for bacteria, fungi, and nematodes. These differences could be related to a range of factors including light level, litter fall composition, pH, C and N, selecting a distinct set of soil taxa, and it is possible that this in itself would affect long-term soil function. |
| first_indexed | 2025-11-15T10:36:49Z |
| format | Article |
| id | upm-53720 |
| institution | Universiti Putra Malaysia |
| institution_category | Local University |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2025-11-15T10:36:49Z |
| publishDate | 2016 |
| publisher | Springer Verlag |
| recordtype | eprints |
| repository_type | Digital Repository |
| spelling | upm-537202018-01-10T09:11:58Z http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/53720/ Rainforest conversion to rubber plantation may not result in lower soil diversity of bacteria, fungi, and nematodes Kerfahi, Dorsaf Tripathi, Binu Mani Dong, Ke Go, Rusea Adams, Jonathan M. Large areas of rainforest in Asia have been converted to plantations, with uncertain effects on soil biodiversity. Using standard metagenetic methods, we compared the soil biota of bacteria, fungi, and nematodes at three rainforest sites in Malaysia with two rubber plantation sites with similar soils and geology. We predicted the following: (1) that the rubber sites would have a lower α- and β-diversity than the rainforest sites, due to the monospecific canopy cover and intensive management with herbicides, pesticides, and fertilizers, and (2) that due to differences in the physical and biotic environment associated with cultivation, there would be distinct communities of bacteria, fungi, and nematodes. However, regarding (1), the results showed no consistent difference in α- and β-diversity of bacteria, fungi, or nematodes between rainforest and rubber plantation sites. It appears that conversion of rainforest to rubber plantations does not necessarily result in a decrease in diversity of soil biota. It may be that heterogeneity associated with the cultivation regimen compensates for loss of biotically imposed heterogeneity of the original rainforest. Regarding (2), as predicted there were statistically significant differences in community composition between rainforest and rubber plantation for bacteria, fungi, and nematodes. These differences could be related to a range of factors including light level, litter fall composition, pH, C and N, selecting a distinct set of soil taxa, and it is possible that this in itself would affect long-term soil function. Springer Verlag 2016-08 Article PeerReviewed application/pdf en http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/53720/1/Rainforest%20conversion%20to%20rubber%20plantation%20may%20not%20result%20in%20lower%20soil%20diversity%20of%20bacteria%2C%20fungi%2C%20and%20nematodes.pdf Kerfahi, Dorsaf and Tripathi, Binu Mani and Dong, Ke and Go, Rusea and Adams, Jonathan M. (2016) Rainforest conversion to rubber plantation may not result in lower soil diversity of bacteria, fungi, and nematodes. Microbial Ecology, 72 (2). pp. 359-371. ISSN 0095-3628; ESSN:1432-184X https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00248-016-0790-0 10.1007/s00248-016-0790-0 |
| spellingShingle | Kerfahi, Dorsaf Tripathi, Binu Mani Dong, Ke Go, Rusea Adams, Jonathan M. Rainforest conversion to rubber plantation may not result in lower soil diversity of bacteria, fungi, and nematodes |
| title | Rainforest conversion to rubber plantation may not result in lower soil diversity of bacteria, fungi, and nematodes |
| title_full | Rainforest conversion to rubber plantation may not result in lower soil diversity of bacteria, fungi, and nematodes |
| title_fullStr | Rainforest conversion to rubber plantation may not result in lower soil diversity of bacteria, fungi, and nematodes |
| title_full_unstemmed | Rainforest conversion to rubber plantation may not result in lower soil diversity of bacteria, fungi, and nematodes |
| title_short | Rainforest conversion to rubber plantation may not result in lower soil diversity of bacteria, fungi, and nematodes |
| title_sort | rainforest conversion to rubber plantation may not result in lower soil diversity of bacteria, fungi, and nematodes |
| url | http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/53720/ http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/53720/ http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/53720/ http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/53720/1/Rainforest%20conversion%20to%20rubber%20plantation%20may%20not%20result%20in%20lower%20soil%20diversity%20of%20bacteria%2C%20fungi%2C%20and%20nematodes.pdf |