Microbiological Characteristics of Bare Peat Circles on Flat-Topped Peat Mounds in the North of Western Siberia

Abstract

A destructive peat horizon T_md of bare peat circles on flat-topped peat mounds in the north of Western Siberia differs from peat horizons (T) of typical peat soils in its higher density, water content, and comminution of peat residues; lower microbial biomass; low mineralization and hydrolase activities; low physiological diversity of hydrolytic bacteria; and specific composition of the fungal complex with an uncharacteristically high proportion and quantity of psychrophilic yeasts Leucosporidium drummii. Specific respiration rate and hydrolase activity in the T_md and T horizons are relatively close, which indicates that, in general, the metabolic activity of microorganisms decomposing the organic matter of peat and increasing the degree of peat decomposition remains unchanged in the soils of bare peat circles.