Factors of extinction risk of soil microorganisms involved in C and N biogeochemical cycling
Scientific relevance
Microorganisms are one of major elements in soil ecosystems. They play crucial role in turnover of biogenic elements and metal cations. Although soil microorganisms have relatively high redundancy, under different stress factors and their interactions, extinction risk of some microbial groups may appear. Influence of particular stressors to soil processes has been investigated and recognized, but the effects of few stress factors altogether on soil microbial communities hasn't been elaborated. Understanding of those factors function will allow to develop new methods for Environmental Risk Assessment (ERA) as well, it will deliver new data for elaborating scientific base of nature conservation.
Aim of the task
Aim of the project (work package) is to assess and compare effects of long term chemical stress (heavy metals in soils at extremely high concentrations) and fluctuations of climatic factors on the rate of basic soil processes (respiration, N mineralization) as well as on the enzymatic activities in polluted and pristine soils. The effects of the anthropogenic (heavy metal pollution) and natural (climate) factors on the structure of soil microbial communities will be also determined.