Microbial Characterization of Andean Peatland’s Soil

Abstract

Peatlands are plant formations established in an edaphic environment, mainly organic, characterized by a water condition of permanent saturation, which works as an oasis that promotes abundant biological diversity in the arid high-altitude environment. Peatlands present cultural, environmental, and economic social relevance because they are sources of life and development for people who live in and depend on these ecosystems. These wetlands have begun to dry up, consequently leading to the loss of natural resources (flora and fauna) and damage to the ancestral rights to natural resources (including water) of indigenous communities, due to the acquisition and exploitation of water rights for non-agricultural uses (mainly mining) that are endangering the sustainability and survival of these groups. The relationship between microbial diversity and function in soil is largely unknown, but biodiversity is assumed to influence ecosystem stability, productivity, and resilience toward stress and disturbance. In this chapter, we will present the first performed approach of microbial diversity in peatland soils.