Download or read book Microbial Community Structure and Function in Coarse Woody Debris and Boreal Forest Soils After Intensified Biomass Harvests written by Elizabeth Emily Smenderovac and published by . This book was released on 2014 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Intensified biomass harvesting could prove to be negative for forest ecological health through the impacts this type of forest management could exert on microbial community structure and function in forest soils and in CWD pools. Microbial community functional characteristics as well as community structure (through T-RFLP and pyrotag sequencing of ssu rRNA) were assayed soils in a boreal jack pine forest exposed to a clearcut intensified harvesting gradient. Microbial communities within CWD of various decay stages were also assessed in order to determine habitat specificity of the decomposer communities within them. Soil microbial communities were altered by harvesting, but intensification did not cause further disturbance. Soils in harvested sites were different from fire sites also assayed, meaning that these disturbance types may have different impacts on microbial community structure and functioning. CWD communities within logs had different characteristics in different sites. Intensification could reduce site specific organisms important in decay initiation.