Comparison of Soil Microbiomes of Mesquite (Prosopis glandulosa) and Texas Wintergrass (Nassela leucotricha) Communities.

Depletion of soil microbial communities has detrimental effects on the entire ecosystem. Throughout Texas, mesquite trees (Prosopis glandulosa) and Texas wintergrass (Nassella leucotricha) have invaded and altered native grassland production and diversity, and thus they are also altering the belowground community. The objectives of this study are to characterize and compare mesquite and wintergrass microbiomes as well as to determine if the mesquite leaves a legacy effect on the soil microbiome. Soil samples were collected at two sites in northcentral Texas from four categories: mesquite with wintergrass beneath the canopy, mesquite with another grass or bare ground beneath the canopy, wintergrass that is beyond the canopy, and another grass or bare ground beyond the canopy. The samples were subjected to 16S metagenomics analysis to compare microbial community structures. Identifying microbial community dynamics will enable us to further understand the mesquite-Texas wintergrass association and aid in our efforts to return land to previous native grasses.