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Simulating Temperature in a Soil Incubation Experiment
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Soil warming alters microbial substrate use in alpine soils.

Kathrin Streit1, Frank Hagedorn, David Hiltbrunner

  • 1Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI), Laboratory of Atmospheric Chemistry, Villigen PSI, 5232, Switzerland.

Global Change Biology
|October 10, 2013
PubMed
Summary

Soil warming in alpine regions increases microbial activity and respiration, leading to greater use of older soil organic carbon (SOC). This shift may reduce long-term carbon storage in these sensitive ecosystems.

Keywords:
Larix deciduaPinus mugocontinuous 13C labelingfree air CO2 enrichment (FACE)fungigram negative bacteriagram positive bacteriaphospholipid fatty acids (PLFA)soil warming

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Area of Science:

  • Ecology
  • Soil Science
  • Microbiology

Background:

  • Alpine soils store significant amounts of soil organic carbon (SOC).
  • Climate warming may alter microbial utilization of SOC, impacting carbon storage.
  • Understanding microbial substrate use is crucial for predicting ecosystem responses to warming.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the impact of soil warming on microbial community composition, activity, and substrate use in alpine soils.
  • To determine if warming increases the utilization of older SOC by microorganisms.
  • To assess potential C losses from alpine ecosystems under warming scenarios.

Main Methods:

  • A 4-year soil warming experiment (+4 °C) was conducted at an alpine treeline.
  • A depleted (13)CO2 tracer was used to distinguish between old, new, and recent carbon sources.
  • Phospholipid fatty acids (PLFA) and C mineralization were analyzed to track microbial substrate use.

Main Results:

  • Warming significantly stimulated soil respiration (+38%) and microbial metabolic activity (+66%).
  • No changes in microbial community composition were observed due to warming.
  • Warming led to a decreased proportion of new and recent carbon in fungal biomarkers and mineralized carbon, indicating increased reliance on older SOC.

Conclusions:

  • Soil warming shifts microbial substrate use towards older soil organic carbon in alpine ecosystems.
  • This shift suggests a potential for decreased SOC storage and increased carbon loss.
  • Alpine treeline ecosystems may be vulnerable to climate warming-induced carbon cycle alterations.