Structure and function of the soil microbiome underlying N2O emissions from global wetlands

Wetland soils are the greatest source of nitrous oxide (N2O), a critical greenhouse gas and ozone depleter released by microbes. Yet, microbial players and processes underlying the N2O emissions from wetland soils are poorly understood. Using in situ N2O measurements and by determining the structure and potential functional of microbial communities in 645 wetland soil samples globally, we examined the potential role of archaea, bacteria, and fungi in nitrogen (N) cycling and N2O emissions. We show that N2O emissions are higher in drained and warm wetland soils, and are correlated with functional diversity of microbes. We further provide evidence that despite their much lower abundance compared to bacteria, nitrifying archaeal abundance is a key factor explaining N2O emissions from wetland soils globally. Our data suggest that ongoing global warming and intensifying environmental change may boost archaeal nitrifiers, collectively transforming wetland soils to a greater source of N2O. The wetland soil microbiome has a major impact on greenhouse gas emissions. Here the authors characterize how a group of archaea contribute to N2O emissions and find that climate and land use changes could promote these organisms.

Automated summary

Wetland soils are the dominant source of N2O emissions, but the microbial players and processes involved are not well understood. This study found that the abundance of nitrifying archaea is a key factor explaining N2O emissions from wetland soils globally. Climate change and environmental changes may enhance the presence of these archaea and transform wetland soils into an even greater source of N2O.