A survey of soil bacterial diversity across a northeast Louisiana federal wildlife refuge

Soil microbial communities represent complex biological systems. Differences in these systems are attributable to a variety of factors, including soil series, plant communities, and anthropogenic land use. We assessed the microbial diversity of two ecoregions, three land usages, and seven soil series at Black Bayou Lake National Wildlife Refuge in Monroe, Louisiana. We found significant differences in beta diversity between ecoregions and the sites and soil series located within them. Bacteria associated with agricultural practices were significantly more abundant at Ouachita River Backswamp sites, reflecting the historical land use of these areas. We found no significant differences between a managed prairie fragment and the Backswamp sites, suggesting that the microbial communities have not changed over 20 years post restoration. Our data provide meaningful baseline measures of bacterial community diversity and abundance for the refuge and highlight the necessity of managing these valuable soil resources in conjunction with plant and animal communities.