Saline soils are environments characterized by uneven temporal and spatial water distribution
and localized high concentrations of salts. Spatial distribution patterns of fungi and bacteria in
saline soils, and the link between microbial community dynamics and salts accumulation are
critical issues throughout the world (Ettema, Wardle 2002).
This study was focused on spatial distribution patterns of soil fungi and bacteria in a saline soil
located in Piana del Signore (Gela, Italy) where some ecological variables acted as shaping
factors in aboveground and belowground communities distribution. Bacterial, archaeal, and
fungal communities diversity and distribution in ten soil sites (A horizons, 0-10cm), were
characterized by 16S rDNA genes with T-RFLP method. Pyrosequencing-based analysis of the
V2-V3 16S rRNA gene region was performed to characterize the sites on the basis of bacterial
groups distribution, diversity and assemblage. To better investigate the ecological niches of
some of the main culturable species of this environment, it was carried out the isolation and
identification of the fungal flora from soil, using Warcup plating within two different salt
concentrations (NaCl 5% and 15%), combined with a metabolic screening of some
representative isolates (Di Lonardo et al., 2013).
A natural gradient of soil salinity shaped the distribution of microbial species in the environment.
The different concentration of salt (NaCl), and calcium sulfate (Ca2SO4) in soil influenced the
structure and distribution of the microbial communities even when comparing neighboring areas
within a 50 m scale.
Some bacterial phyla, together with some fungal species, appeared spread in the whole area,
independently of the salinity gradient, thus highlighting the presence of organisms with a very
different survival strategy in such an extreme environment.
In conclusion, the organization and diversity of microbial taxa at a spatial scale reflected the
scales of heterogeneity of physical and chemical properties of the habitat under investigation