Bacterial Communities in Soil Are Lognormally Distributed
Author Information
Author(s): Doroghazi James R., Buckley Daniel H.
Primary Institution: Cornell University
Hypothesis
Can the species abundance distribution of soil bacterial communities be accurately characterized using GC-TRFLP?
Conclusion
The study found that the lognormal distribution best fits the species abundance distribution of soil bacterial communities.
Supporting Evidence
- GC-TRFLP identified 731 OTUs in the soil sample.
- The lognormal distribution was the only model that could not be rejected for the community data.
- TRFLP analysis resulted in fewer detectable TRFs compared to GC-TRFLP.
Takeaway
Scientists looked at bacteria in soil and found that most types are rare while a few are very common, which is like having a few popular toys and many that nobody plays with.
Methodology
The study used GC-TRFLP to analyze a soil sample and identify bacterial operational taxonomic units (OTUs).
Potential Biases
PCR bias could affect the relative abundance of gene sequences and the accuracy of community SAD estimation.
Limitations
The study's findings may be influenced by PCR bias and the inability to culture most bacteria.
Participant Demographics
The study focused on a single soil sample from a fallow field in Ithaca, NY.
Statistical Information
P-Value
0.657
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
Want to read the original?
Access the complete publication on the publisher's website