Satellite Symposium 1: Optimisation

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Microorganisms are excellent indicators of soil health, because of their rapid response to environmental change. Traditional microbiology is ineffective for the study of soil, as < 1% of microorganisms are currently culturable (Torsvik et al., 1996). Nucleic acid based methods, however, allow rapid detection of organisms, or particular genes, directly from soil samples. This work investigated, using polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based approaches, the relationship between key chemical properties and bacterial biodiversity in grassland and tilled soils, with particular emphasis on the abundance and diversity of ammonium oxidisers.

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Effect of Soil Chemistry on Microbial Biodiversity and Functionality in Grassland and Tilled Soils

Microorganisms are excellent indicators of soil health, because of their rapid response to environmental change. Traditional microbiology is ineffective for the study of soil, as < 1% of microorganisms are currently culturable (Torsvik et al., 1996). Nucleic acid based methods, however, allow rapid detection of organisms, or particular genes, directly from soil samples. This work investigated, using polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based approaches, the relationship between key chemical properties and bacterial biodiversity in grassland and tilled soils, with particular emphasis on the abundance and diversity of ammonium oxidisers.