Microbial Diversity along a Debris Flow Chronosequence.

The objective of this study was to investigate the development of soil microbial communities along the primary succession gradient of a debris flow in the San Bernardino Mountains of southern California.  We used phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) analysis to characterize microbial community composition at 4 soils ranging in age from < 1 to 244 years. Results indicate a relative increase in Gram-positive relative to Gram-negative bacteria with increasing soil age as well as increasing depth within the soil profiles.