Effects of a long‐term anoxic warming scenario on microbial community structure and functional potential of permafrost‐affected soil

Permafrost (PF)‐affected soils are widespread in the Arctic and store about half the global soil organic carbon. This large carbon pool becomes vulnerable to microbial decomposition through PF warming and deepening of the seasonal thaw layer (active layer [AL]). Here we combined greenhouse gas (GHG)...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Permafrost and periglacial processes 2021-10, Vol.32 (4), p.641-656
Main Authors: Yang, Sizhong, Liebner, Susanne, Walz, Josefine, Knoblauch, Christian, Bornemann, Till L. V., Probst, Alexander J., Wagner, Dirk, Jetten, Mike S. M., Zandt, Michiel H.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Active layer
Anoxia
Anoxic conditions
Carbohydrates
Carbon
Carbon cycle
Carbon dioxide
climate change
Community structure
Genes
Greenhouse effect
Greenhouse gases
Incubation period
Metabolic pathways
Metabolism
microbial dynamics
Microorganisms
Organic carbon
Organic matter
Organic soils
Permafrost
Relative abundance
Soil
Soils
Transition layers
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Summary:Permafrost (PF)‐affected soils are widespread in the Arctic and store about half the global soil organic carbon. This large carbon pool becomes vulnerable to microbial decomposition through PF warming and deepening of the seasonal thaw layer (active layer [AL]). Here we combined greenhouse gas (GHG) production rate measurements with a metagenome‐based assessment of the microbial taxonomic and metabolic potential before and after 5 years of incubation under anoxic conditions at a constant temperature of 4°C in the AL, PF transition layer, and intact PF. Warming led to a rapid initial release of CO2 and, to a lesser extent, CH4 in all layers. After the initial pulse, especially in CO2 production, GHG production rates declined and conditions became more methanogenic. Functional gene‐based analyses indicated a decrease in carbon‐ and nitrogen‐cycling genes and a community shift to the degradation of less‐labile organic matter. This study reveals low but continuous GHG production in long‐term warming scenarios, which coincides with a decrease in the relative abundance of major metabolic pathway genes and an increase in carbohydrate‐active enzyme classes.
ISSN:1045-6740
1099-1530
DOI:10.1002/ppp.2131