Structure of microbial communities in red ferralitic soils of Varadero National Park (Matanzas, Cuba)

Comparative study of microbial communities in red ferralitic soil, as well as tree waste and phylloplane of woody plants, of Varadero National Park (Cuba) has been performed. It is shown that the total bacterial abundance and the length of the actinomycete mycelium in the studied soil samples (A horizon) are comparable to and the length of the viable fungal mycelium is lower than the analogous parameters recorded in forest soils of the temperate zone. It is noted that the viability of bacteria is close to that in forest soils of the temperate zone. The maximum concentration of soil biota is found in the A horizon of the studied soils, in contrast to forest biogeocenoses of the temperate zone, where soil biota is concentrated in the litter. It is shown for the first time that prokaryote communities are characterized by a significant presence of filterable forms of bacteria, the content of which increases in the series: soil (A horizon) → tree waste (dry leaves) → phylloplane (green leaves).