Characterising soil microbiomes associated with cushion plant species Azorella selago and Sagina procumbens on Marion Island

Abstract

The development of an ecosystem is dependent on several organisms, with the focus of research falling primarily upon pioneering plants and subsequent plant succession during the early phases of development. Currently, little research has been published using targeted metagenomic approaches to investigate the effects of the soil microbiomes on alien invasion within plant driven ecosystem development, particularly in sub-Antarctic terrestrial ecosystems. There is evidence suggesting that cushion plants act as ecosystem engineers, with Azorella spp. fulfilling this role in the Chilean Andes and Sagina procumbens colonizing baron lava fields on the geologically young island of Surtsey. Marion Island is host to an indigenous cushion plant species, Azorella selago. The presence of invasive cushion species, Sagina procumbens, was first reported in 1965 and is presently established in 21 different habitats and dominates the plant community at 7 of these sites. The research described here aimed to characterise the soil microbiomes associated with A. selago and S. procumbens through analysis of 16S rRNA and 18S rRNA amplicon sequence data. Statistical analysis of the data suggests that geographic location of the plant most greatly impacts the community composition of the plant-associated microbiota relative to factors such as plant size or aspect. Furthermore, differences were observed in microbial communities in soil sampled from directly beneath the plant specimens relative to the surrounding open soil. - Abstract as displayed in the - Abstract booklet. The presentation on the day may differ from the - Abstract.