Soil microbiome analysis of a northeastern deciduous forest in SUNY Old Westbury, Long Island, New York

We studied spatial changes in soil bacterial microbiome composition and diversity in a 111 acres old growth mixed hardwood forest plot in Long Island, NY. Forty soil samples were collected from four forest transects across the forest plot representing various soil features, and dominant vegetation. Three phyla account for 91% of the bacteria in the samples, Acidobacteriota (43%), Proteobacteriota (30%), and Actinobacteriota (18%). We also found 16 different classes and 33 orders. Sites dominated by black birch, <i>Betula lenta</i> were significant more diverse than all other sites. We also found significant differences in microbiome composition based on pH and vegetation.