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Why were we interested?
After surveying the backwoods of RPCS, we noticed that there was a difference in bacteria levels between sites at different elevations. We wanted to test if this pattern was consistent, and also wanted to test some variables that could cause this gradient. We chose water levels and organic matter levels because they each play an essential role in bacteria health.
What is organic matter?
Soil organic matter (SOM) is formed by the decomposition of plant and animal matter. It significantly improves soil’s ability to store and supply essential nutrients, which is crucial for its health and quality!
How does elevation affect organic matter in soil?
Many factors, such as erosion and wind, can carry organic matter down a hill. The content of SOM tends to vary systematically down a hillslope, with the lower parts of the slope typically holding a higher content of SOM than those in higher slopes.
What is soil moisture?
Soil moisture measures the amount of moisture in the soil, and it is usually recorded as a percent either on a dry or a wet basis. The wet basis is more intuitive to most people because it represents the percent of the soil's weight that comes from water. Soil moisture can be affected by rain amount, soil composition, and more. For example, if there is a lot of organic matter in the soil, that will cause an increase in soil moisture.
How is soil bacteria affected by organic matter and soil moisture?
Microorganisms such as aerobic bacteria are responsible for most SOM breakdown, and higher amounts of SOM often correlate to higher microorganism counts.
Soil moisture is a key medium for microbial activity and other biochemical reactions. Extremely low or high moisture content is not ideal for bacterial growth.
Why is soil bacteria important?
Bacteria are a major class of microorganisms that keep soil healthy and productive. They improve soil aggregation, recycle soil nutrients, and recycle water. Soil bacteria also improve soil structure by forming micro aggregates, therefore increasing water infiltration and water holding capacity. Bacteria are also good for plant health! In the 1800s, Dutch scientist Martinus Beijerinck discovered that bacteria turn atmospheric nitrogen, a necessary nutrient, into a form of nitrogen that plants can use.
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