@article{fdi:010046349,
  title = {{S}patial variations of chemical composition, microbial functional diversity, and enzyme activities in a {M}editerranean litter ({Q}uercus ilex {L}.) profile},
  author = {{A}larcon-{G}uti{\'e}rrez, {E}. and {F}loch, {C}. and {A}ugur, {C}hristopher and {L}e {P}etit, {J}. and {Z}iarelli, {F}. and {C}riquet, {S}.},
  editor = {},
  language = {{ENG}},
  abstract = {{L}itter decomposition on the forest floor is an essential process in soil nutrient cycles and formation. {T}hese processes are controlled by abiotic factors such as climate and chemical {L}itter quality, and by biotic factors such as microbial community diversity and activity. {T}he aim of this study was to investigate the importance of litter depth with respect to (i) chemical titter quality as evaluated by solid-state {C}-13 {NMR}, (ii) enzyme activities, and (iii) microbial functional diversity in four different titter layers ({OL}n, {OL}v, {OF}, and {OH}). {A} {M}editerranean soil profile under an evergreen oak ({Q}uercus ilex {L}.) forest was used as a model. {T}he recalcitrant {OM} fraction, corresponding to the deepest layer, showed tow enzyme activities. {P}eroxidases and fluorescein diacetate hydrolases ({FDA}) were more active in the {OL}n layer and probably originated largely from plants. {H}igh cellulase activity in the {OL}n and the {OL}v layers, which are rich in polysaccharides, corresponded with the high content of {O}-alkyl carbon compounds. {F}ollowing polysaccharide degradation, laccases and lipases were much more evident in the intermediate layers. {T}his spatial variation in nutrient demand reflected a preferential degradation of the specific plant polymers. {P}hosphatases were more active along the three upper layers and probably reflected a {P} limitation during litter degradation. {A}lkatine/acid ({A}c{PA}l{P}/{A}c{P}) ratio increased in the deepest layer, suggesting an increased participation of bacteria {A}l{P} in phosphatase pools. {R}esults of {B}iolog ({TM}) also indicated spatial variations in microbial functionality. {I}ndeed, {FF} plates showed the highest functional diversity in the uppermost layer, while {ECO} plate functional diversity was highest in the intermediate layers. {F}inally, our results indicated that microbial activity and functional diversity of micro-organisms change with titter depth on a very small scale and vary with chemical organic matter ({OM}) composition. {T}hus, the observed increases in the biological variables studied were determined by the evolution of {OM} chemical structures, the nature and availability in {C} nutrients, and they ultimately resulted in a progressive accumulation of recalcitrant compounds.},
  keywords = {{C}-13 {CPMAS} {NMR} ; {C}hemical litter composition ; {S}oil depth ; {B}iolog ({TM})},
  booktitle = {},
  journal = {{P}edobiologia},
  volume = {52},
  numero = {6},
  pages = {387--399},
  ISSN = {0031-4056},
  year = {2009},
  DOI = {10.1016/j.pedobi.2009.01.002},
  URL = {https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010046349},
}