U.S. flagAn official website of the United States government
                    Here's how you know **Official websites use .gov**
                            
                            A **.gov** website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
 **Secure .gov websites use HTTPS**
                            
                            A **lock** (                            
                              A locked padlock                                                      
                            
                            ) or **https://** means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.


Menu Agricultural Research Service
						
                    U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
 Wind Erosion and Water Conservation Research: Lubbock, TX
 close



    Research

                    Research Projects
                                    Publications
                                    Collaborations
                                    News
                                    Software
                People

                    Staff Listing
                                    CareersSearch small
                    Search
            
            ARS Home
                                About ARS
                                Contact Us




ARS Home Plains Area Lubbock, Texas Cropping Systems Research Laboratory Wind Erosion and Water Conservation Research Research Publications at this Location





- ARS National Programs
- Search for a scientific manuscript
- Search for a research project
- ARS Software
- Programs and Projects
- Collaborations
- Subjects of Investigation
- Publications

Title:   Author  item
                                            CLARK, JEB - TTUitem
                                            CAMPBELL, JAMES - TTUitem
                                            GRIZZLE, HEATH - TTUitem
                                            Acosta-Martinez, Veronicaitem
                                            ZAK, JOHN - TTU
  Submitted to: Microbial Ecology
                                    Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
                                    Publication Acceptance Date: 11/20/2008
                                    Publication  Date: 2/1/2009
                                    Citation: Clark, J.S., Campbell, J.H., Grizzle, H., Acosta Martinez, V., Zak, J. 2009. Soil microbial community response to drought and precipitation variability in the Chiuahuan Desert. Microbial Ecology. 57(2): 248-260.Interpretive Summary: As patterns of moisture inputs and amounts experience global change, soil microbial communities will be impacted, which can influence the functioning of the Chihuahuan desert region of West Texas.  Scientists from Texas Tech University and USDA-ARS in Lubbock have examined the soil microbial community structure within three zones with an elevation and vegetation gradient (low desert-scrub, grassland, and high elevation oak-pine forests) along the Pine Canyon Watershed in Big Bend National Park at the Chihuahuan desert. This study identified significant differences in the soil microbial communities of the vegetation zones studied and as affected by seasonal changes.  The differential susceptibility of the microbial communities to changes in precipitation amounts along the elevation gradient reflects the interactive effects of the soil moisture window duration following a precipitation event and differences in soil heat loads.
                                Technical Abstract: Increases in the magnitude and variability of precipitation events have been predicted for the Chihuahuan desert region of West Texas.  As patterns of moisture inputs and amounts experience global change, soil microbial communities will be impacted, which can influence the functioning of the Chihuahuan desert.  This study examined the soil microbial community structure within three zones with an elevation and vegetation gradient (low desert-scrub, grassland, and high elevation oak-pine forests) along the Pine Canyon Watershed in Big Bend National Park at the Chihuahuan desert.  This study identified significant differences in the soil microbial communities of the vegetation zones studied and as affected by seasonal changes.  Highest fungal levels were obtained in the low desert-scrub site and not from the high elevation oak-pine forests. Total bacterial and actinomycetes were higher in winter than in summer at the low elevation desert-shrub and grassland.  DGGE band counts of amplified soil bacterial DNA differed significantly across sites and season showing this trend: mid-elevation grassland> low desert-scrub>high elevation oak-pine forest.  Soil bacterial communities at the mid-elevation grassland were the most vulnerable to changes in precipitation frequency and timing, while fungal community structure was most vulnerable in the low-desert scrub site.  The differential susceptibility of the microbial communities to changes in precipitation amounts along the elevation gradient reflects the interactive effects of the soil moisture window duration following a precipitation event and differences in soil heat loads.  Amounts and types of carbon inputs may not be as important in regulating microbial structure among vegetation zones within in an arid environment as is the seasonal pattern of soil moisture and the soil heat load profile that characterizes the location.


Return to top


Connect with ARS Sign up


ARS Home
                            USDA.gov
                            Plain Writing
                            Policies & Links
                            Civil Rights Statements
                            FOIA
                            Accessibility Statement
                            Privacy Policy
                            Non-Discrimination Statement
                            Quality of Information
                            USA.gov
                            WhiteHouse.gov