Microbial inputs at the litter layer translate climate into altered organic matter properties

Plant litter chemistry is altered during decomposition but it remains unknown if these alterations, and thus the composition of residual litter, will change in response to climate. Selective microbial mineralization of litter components and the accumulation of microbial necromass can drive litter compositional change, but the extent to which these mechanisms respond to climate remains poorly understood. We addressed this knowledge gap by studying needle litter decomposition along a boreal forest climate transect. Specifically, we investigated how the composition and/or metabolism of the decomposer community varies with climate, and if that variation is associated with distinct modifications of litter chemistry during decomposition. We analyzed the composition of microbial phospholipid fatty acids (PLFAs) in the litter layer and measured natural abundance delta C-13(PLFA) values as an integrated measure of microbial metabolisms. Changes in litter chemistry and delta C-13 values were measured in litterbag experiments conducted at each transect site. A warmer climate was associated with higher litter nitrogen concentrations as well as altered microbial community structure (lower fungi:bacteria ratios) and microbial metabolism (higher delta C-13(PLFA)). Litter in warmer transect regions accumulated less aliphatic-C (lipids, waxes) and retained more O-alkyl-C (carbohydrates), consistent with enhanced C-13-enrichment in residual litter, than in colder regions. These results suggest that chemical changes during litter decomposition will change with climate, driven primarily by indirect climate effects (e.g., greater nitrogen availability and decreased fungi:bacteria ratios) rather than direct temperature effects. A positive correlation between microbial biomass delta C-13 values and C-13-enrichment during decomposition suggests that change in litter chemistry is driven more by distinct microbial necromass inputs than differences in the selective removal of litter components. Our study highlights the role that microbial inputs during early litter decomposition can play in shaping surface litter contribution to soil organic matter as it responds to climate warming effects such as greater nitrogen availability.

Automated summary

Our study revealed that under warmer climate conditions, litter exhibited higher nitrogen concentrations, altered microbial community structure (lower fungi:bacteria ratios), and changed microbial metabolism (higher delta C-13(PLFA)). As the climate warms, aliphatic-C (lipids, waxes) content in litter decreased while O-alkyl-C (carbohydrates) increased, leading to enhanced C-13-enrichment in residual litter. These changes in litter chemistry during decomposition are primarily driven by indirect climate effects like increased nitrogen availability and decreased fungi:bacteria ratios.