Date of Award
Spring 5-10-2024
Degree Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science in Integrative Biology
Department
Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology
Committee Chair/First Advisor
Paula Jackson
Second Advisor
Nicholas Green
Third Advisor
Joel McNeal
Abstract
Longleaf pine (Pinus palustris Mill.) ecosystems are one of the most endangered and ecologically diverse systems in North America. The native herbaceous species serve as fuel for low-intensity, recurring fires this system relies on. The herbaceous species play major roles in maintaining ecosystem structure and diversity. Soil microorganisms like bacteria are known to aid greatly in many different plant and ecosystem processes. However, little is known about the dominant herbaceous species and soil bacterial compositions within montane longleaf pine ecosystems, especially before and after a prescribed fire. We completed a multiyear, seasonal analysis of the soil bacterial community in a longleaf pine restoration site in the Piedmont region of Georgia, USA to identify major soil bacterial taxa and analyze for changes in their community structures following plant removal, seasonal environmental changes, and use of prescribed burn. Six randomized blocks (2.4 m2) in Sheffield Wildlife Management Area contained four subplots (50 cm2), each with one of the following treatments: 1) control; 2) Pityposis nervosa (Willd.) Dress removed; 3) Andropogon virginicus L. removed; or 4) soil disturbance. DNA was extracted from soil samples and PCR amplified for bacterial rRNA gene sequences. The most abundant bacteria were common bulk and rhizosphere-dwelling phyla such as Planctomycetota, Proteobacteria, and Acidobacteria, with most unclassified at the family level. Plant removal did not significantly change soil bacterial community structures, but microbiomes did shift with changes in seasons. This serves as baseline data for future studies on interactions between ecologically important plants and their microbial communities, which may help inform the restoration process of native ecosystems.
Comments
Grants in Aid of Research (Sigma Xi, 2024)
MSIB Graduate Student Research Funding (Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Organismal Biology, Kennesaw State University, 2023)
MSIB Graduate Student Research Funding (Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Organismal Biology, Kennesaw State University, 2022)
Undergraduate Research and Creativity Funds (Kennesaw State University Office of Undergraduate Research, 2021)