Characterizing suburban soil and microbial properties along a soil age chronosequence
Abstract Rapid urbanization is drastically altering ecosystem processes in landscapes around the world. In particular, suburban residential neighborhoods comprise novel ecosystems with water and nutrient inputs that differ greatly from the surrounding land area. These impacts generate concern over t...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2024-12-01
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| Series: | Ecosphere |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1002/ecs2.70111 |
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| _version_ | 1832584205490454528 |
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| author | Andie Suratt Kavisha Behl Wai Lam Hong Yae Eun Yoon Steven D. Allison |
| author_facet | Andie Suratt Kavisha Behl Wai Lam Hong Yae Eun Yoon Steven D. Allison |
| author_sort | Andie Suratt |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Rapid urbanization is drastically altering ecosystem processes in landscapes around the world. In particular, suburban residential neighborhoods comprise novel ecosystems with water and nutrient inputs that differ greatly from the surrounding land area. These impacts generate concern over the sustainability of urban ecosystems, especially whether they will be characterized by net carbon gain or loss over time. To address this knowledge gap, we established a chronosequence of residential yards in Southern California to test how urban soils change after development. We predicted that urbanized soils would experience shifts in physical characteristics and microbial function over time consistent with ecological succession theory, but residential soils would maintain novel moisture and nutrient regimes compared to undeveloped soils, never “recovering” to a pre‐developed state. We compared different vegetation types to quantify impacts of homeowner landscaping choices and characterized yard soils and their microbial communities. We found that yard soils were nutrient‐ and moisture‐enriched compared to an adjacent undeveloped ecosystem, and turfgrass was associated with higher levels of water and nitrogen. Despite high respiration rates, yard soils accumulated carbon and nitrogen over time. We conclude that suburban residential soils comprise dynamic and heterogeneous ecosystems that are highly influenced by landscaping choices and management practices, and warrant closer study at small management‐relevant scales. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-c5e00f97e393436a9801abd5b1b86147 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2150-8925 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-12-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Ecosphere |
| spelling | doaj-art-c5e00f97e393436a9801abd5b1b861472025-01-27T14:51:33ZengWileyEcosphere2150-89252024-12-011512n/an/a10.1002/ecs2.70111Characterizing suburban soil and microbial properties along a soil age chronosequenceAndie Suratt0Kavisha Behl1Wai Lam Hong2Yae Eun Yoon3Steven D. Allison4Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology University of California Irvine California USADepartment of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology University of California Irvine California USADepartment of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology University of California San Diego California USADepartment of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology University of California Irvine California USADepartment of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology University of California Irvine California USAAbstract Rapid urbanization is drastically altering ecosystem processes in landscapes around the world. In particular, suburban residential neighborhoods comprise novel ecosystems with water and nutrient inputs that differ greatly from the surrounding land area. These impacts generate concern over the sustainability of urban ecosystems, especially whether they will be characterized by net carbon gain or loss over time. To address this knowledge gap, we established a chronosequence of residential yards in Southern California to test how urban soils change after development. We predicted that urbanized soils would experience shifts in physical characteristics and microbial function over time consistent with ecological succession theory, but residential soils would maintain novel moisture and nutrient regimes compared to undeveloped soils, never “recovering” to a pre‐developed state. We compared different vegetation types to quantify impacts of homeowner landscaping choices and characterized yard soils and their microbial communities. We found that yard soils were nutrient‐ and moisture‐enriched compared to an adjacent undeveloped ecosystem, and turfgrass was associated with higher levels of water and nitrogen. Despite high respiration rates, yard soils accumulated carbon and nitrogen over time. We conclude that suburban residential soils comprise dynamic and heterogeneous ecosystems that are highly influenced by landscaping choices and management practices, and warrant closer study at small management‐relevant scales.https://doi.org/10.1002/ecs2.70111chronosequencedisturbanceland managementmicrobial communitiessoil biogeochemistryurban ecology |
| spellingShingle | Andie Suratt Kavisha Behl Wai Lam Hong Yae Eun Yoon Steven D. Allison Characterizing suburban soil and microbial properties along a soil age chronosequence Ecosphere chronosequence disturbance land management microbial communities soil biogeochemistry urban ecology |
| title | Characterizing suburban soil and microbial properties along a soil age chronosequence |
| title_full | Characterizing suburban soil and microbial properties along a soil age chronosequence |
| title_fullStr | Characterizing suburban soil and microbial properties along a soil age chronosequence |
| title_full_unstemmed | Characterizing suburban soil and microbial properties along a soil age chronosequence |
| title_short | Characterizing suburban soil and microbial properties along a soil age chronosequence |
| title_sort | characterizing suburban soil and microbial properties along a soil age chronosequence |
| topic | chronosequence disturbance land management microbial communities soil biogeochemistry urban ecology |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1002/ecs2.70111 |
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