A recent study from researchers at the Centre for Microbiology and Environmental Systems Science (CeMESS) at the University of Vienna has revealed that warmer soils support a wider variety of active microbes. This increased microbial activity leads to the release of carbon, which is actually caused by the activation of previously dormant bacteria.
Lead author of the study, Andreas Richter, emphasizes the significance of soils as Earth’s largest reservoir of organic carbon. Microorganisms play a crucial role in the global carbon cycle by breaking down organic matter and releasing carbon dioxide. As temperatures rise due to climate change, microbial communities are expected to emit more carbon dioxide, contributing to a feedback loop that accelerates climate change.
Contrary to previous assumptions, the study found that the response of microbial communities to warmer temperatures is not solely driven by increased growth rates of individual microbial taxa. To investigate this, the researchers visited a subarctic grassland in Iceland that has experienced geothermal warming for over half a century, resulting in elevated soil temperatures compared to surrounding areas.
2024-02-24 18:00:04
Source from phys.org