Microbial Physiological Diversity Assessment in Protected Wetlands: A Case Study in Maritza River Basin, South Bulgaria

• Main Authors: Ivan Iliev, Sonya Kostadinova, Marinela Tsankova, Mariana Marhova
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Union of Scientists in Bulgaria 2020-12-01
• Series: Ecologia Balkanica
• Subjects: wetlands; rice paddies; biolog ecoplates; awcd; community level physiological profile; pca
• Online Access: http://web.uni-plovdiv.bg/mollov/EB/2020_vol12_iss2/097-110_eb.20144.pdf
• ISSN: 1314-0213; 1313-9940

This study explored the spatial differences and physiological diversity of soil microbial communities in natural wetland and constructed rice paddies in the Maritsa River Basin, protected under the Birds Directive 2009/147/EC as natural habitats. Community level physiological profiling was used to characterize the metabolic function of the communities. The microbial activity expressed, as average well colour development (AWCD) and substrate richness and diversity was higher in the non-flooded soils with no significant spatial differences. Individual carbon source utilization patterns (CSUPs) segregated the paddy fields profiles from the natural wetland sediments and showed that communities` metabolic functions were strongly influenced by rice cropping and not by the sample location. The CUSPs revealed that easily degradable carbohydrates were the most widely used substrates followed by amino acids, carboxylic acids, and polyols. Natural wetland communities held an isolated position with lower nutrient supply and intensive catabolic activity regarding somewhat biochemically inert substrates polyols, phenolic acids, and amines indicating higher functional diversity. The presented study is evident for the good ecological potential of the Zlato pole wetlands and demonstrates that the extent of carbon uptake is determined by the habitat but also reflects the anthropogenic impact.