The metabolic fingerprint of soil microbiota in an acidified environment using Biolog Microstationtm

Abstract The authors evaluate the metabolic activity (utilisation of sugars, amino acids, carboxylic acids, esters and chemical sensitivity) of soil microscopic filamentous fungi and bacteria in an environment with an extremely acidic soil pH. The experimental location –the former mining area Šobov (Banská Štiavnica, Slovakia) – was of interest. The soil pH (3.34–4.94) is still causing notable acidification of the surrounding soil environment, which results in the formation of areas with water erosion, without vegetation or with an acidophilic plant community. Using the Biolog MicroStation™ system, we studied the effect of pH on soil microscopic filamentous fungi and bacteria alongside their structure in the soil and metabolic activity. Soil microscopic filamentous fungi prevailed in soil pH 3.34 of environment, where species of the genus Penicillium dominated. Bacteria with the Bacillus domain predominated in soil pH 4.94 of environment. Among carbon substrates utilisation, the activity of soil microscopic filamentous fungi was recorded with utilisation of D-ribose, L-alanine and succinic acid and the activity of bacteria when utilising D-glucose, D-gluconic acid and L-alanine. Both of microorganisms showed utilisation in the case of D-trehalose, which is specific for environments with extreme conditions. In consequence of soil acidification, soil microscopic filamentous fungi also utilised L-proline to a great extent.