The temperature sensitivity of soil: microbial biodiversity, growth, and carbon mineralization

Microorganisms drive soil carbon mineralization and changes in their activity with increased temperature could feedback to climate change. Variation in microbial biodiversity and the temperature sensitivities (Q(10)) of individual taxa may explain differences in the Q(10) of soil respiration, a possibility not previously examined due to methodological limitations. Here, we show phylogenetic and taxonomic variation in the Q(10) of growth (5-35 degrees C) among soil bacteria from four sites, one from each of Arctic, boreal, temperate, and tropical biomes. Differences in the temperature sensitivities of taxa and the taxonomic composition of communities determined community-assembled bacterial growth Q(10), which was strongly predictive of soil respiration Q(10) within and across biomes. Our results suggest community-assembled traits of microbial taxa may enable enhanced prediction of carbon cycling feedbacks to climate change in ecosystems across the globe.

Automated summary

This study found that differences in microbial taxonomy and their temperature sensitivities play a key role in explaining variations in Q(10) of soil respiration, which is crucial for predicting feedbacks to climate change in ecosystems across the globe.