Effect of riparian soil moisture on bacterial, fungal and plant communities and microbial decomposition rates in boreal stream-side forests

Riparian habitats of boreal forests are considered as hotspots for biochemical processes and biodiversity, varying width riparian buffers have been proposed to protect species diversity the forests. However, evidence role soil moisture variation in shaping biodiversity ecosystem functioning remain scarce particularly regarding belowground diversity. We studied how distance from stream zone affected richness community composition plants, bacteria, fungi well microbial decomposition rates. Using a split-plot design with plant survey amplicon sequencing microorganisms we identified taxa associated different categories along six headwater stream-sides middle Northern Finland. Tea-bag Index was used assess PERMANOVA linear mixed-effect models were analyze data. Variation influenced plants bacteria. Plant communities also changed herbaceous dominated shrub increasing stream. Fungal communities, however, did not respond or stream, there only slight differences fungal trophic guilds among categories. Decomposition organic material by faster adjacent than further away, moist areas had higher rates drier ones. positively related pH, Ca, Mg NH4 temperature. Synthesis applications show that above- at sites supporting idea leaving wider unmanaged safeguard overall forest Our findings emphasize need consider when planning measures protection changes could lead deterioration matter decomposition. Different responses examined conditions clearly imply cannot be explained based on single type, organisms may differently human-induced zone.