Effect of Temperature on the Taxonomic Structure of Soil Bacterial Communities during Litter Decomposition

Abstract

Effect of temperature on succession changes of the saprotrophic bacterial community of gray forest soil in the course of decomposition of aspen leaves and branches was studied in incubation experiments. Stability of the structure of the microbial community at elevated temperature was shown, as well as predominance of Beta- and Gammaproteobacteria, Actinobacteria, and Firmicutes. A decrease in temperature resulted in lower bacterial diversity and domination of phychrotolerant Janthinobacterium species.