A statistical analysis of the relationships among viable microbial populations, vegetation, and environment in a subantarctic tundra

Parametric and nonparametric analyses were used to investigate the relationships between the populations of viable microbes and 4 edaphic variables — soil moisture, rainfall, temperature, and pH. Microbial populations were sampled over a 2-year period in contrasting grass and moss stands on the subantarctic island of South Georgia. Moisture was found to be the most significant edaphic variable, but there were highly significant correlations between bacterial and fungal populations at both sites. Individual plant species showed clear correlations with both bacterial and fungal populations.