Comparative Study of Metabolic Activities of Bacteria in Three Ecoregions of the Colorado Front Range, U.S.A.
- 1 February 1982
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Taylor & Francis in Arctic and Alpine Research
- Vol. 14 (1) , 53-58
- https://doi.org/10.2307/1550815
Abstract
A comparative study of the bacteria occurring in soils of montane grasslands, montane forests, subalpine forests and alpine tundra habitats was conducted to ascertain the types of bacterial metabolic or enzymatic activities in the soils of these ecosystems. Elevation substantially affected taxa isolated. Amylolytic, cellulolytic and pectinolytic activity was observed in cultured isolates from all areas. Proteolytic activity was not observed in isolates from alpine tundra but was observed in cultures isoalted from all other areas. Microbial population sizes remained constant with increased elevation but organismic diversity decreased. Nitrifying and denitrifying bacteria were isolated from all ecosystems studied. Free-living N-fixing organisms were isolated in large numbers from all areas except the alpine tundra. Rapid degradation of cellulose seems to be the result of a cooperative effect between bacteria and fungi in alpine tundra soils.This publication has 2 references indexed in Scilit:
- A Climatological Transect on the East Slope of the Front Range, ColoradoArctic and Alpine Research, 1973
- Energy Flow in the Salt Marsh Ecosystem of GeorgiaEcology, 1962