Distribution of Bacterial Species in Soil with a Vegetational Change from Japanese Black Pine (Pinus thunbergii) to Black Locust (Robinia pseudoacacia)

The effects of a nitrogen-fixing tree, black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia), on the distribution of bacterial species were examined in a Japanese black pine (Pinus thunbergii) and black locust-dominated area. DNA was extracted from the soil at depths of 0-5 and 5-10 cm, collected at the border between a Japanese black pine-dominated forest and a black locust-dominated forest, and the distribution of bacterial species was investigated by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE). The bacterial communities did not differ between the two forests. The distribution of some bacterial species correlated significantly with soil pH, soil carbon [C], soil nitrogen [N], and soil N/phosphate [P], but not with soil C/N or soil P. The distributional relationships between ectomycorrhizal (ECM) fungal species and bacterial species were also analyzed. A positive correlation was observed between the distribution of some ECM fungi and bacterial species. These bacteria may have some interactions with ECM fungi in the field.