Garlic mustard and its effects on soil microbial communities in a sandy pine forest in central Illinois

摘要: This study evaluated the impacts of garlic mustard (Alliaria petiolata), an invasive species, on soil microbial community dynamics in a pine plantation sandy soils central Illinois. In situ carbon dioxide efflux was significantly greater invaded sites. Similarly, vitro mineralization for collected from sites, but only early incubation period. Incubations with selective inhibitors showed decrease fungi relative to bacteria. Nitrogen-free agar plates inoculated slurries supported numbers bacterial colonies soils. Overall, our studies suggest that invasions have potential shift structure by selectively increasing some populations and decreasing fungal populations. Furthermore, may affect microbes involved nitrogen turnover, suggesting removal this species not be sufficient restore ecosystem function.