Bacteria and Fungi Respond Differently to Multifactorial Climate Change in a Temperate Heathland, Traced with .sup.13C-Glycine and FACE CO.sub.2

• Published in: PloS one Vol. 9; no. 1; p. e85070
• Main Authors: Andresen, Louise C, Dungait, Jennifer A. J, Bol, Roland, Selsted, Merete B, Ambus, Per, Michelsen, Anders
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Public Library of Science 15-01-2014
• Subjects: Atmospheric carbon dioxide; Bacteria; Ecosystems; Fatty acids; Fungi; Global temperature changes; Glycine; Heathlands; Soil carbon; Soil microbiology
• ISSN: 1932-6203; 1932-6203
• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0085070

It is vital to understand responses of soil microorganisms to predicted climate changes, as these directly control soil carbon (C) dynamics. The rate of turnover of soil organic carbon is mediated by soil microorganisms whose activity may be affected by climate change. After one year of multifactorial climate change treatments, at an undisturbed temperate heathland, soil microbial community dynamics were investigated by injection of a very small concentration (5.12 [micro]g C g.sup.-1 soil) of .sup.13 C-labeled glycine (.sup.13 C.sub.2, 99 atom %) to soils in situ. Plots were treated with elevated temperature (+1°C, T), summer drought (D) and elevated atmospheric carbon dioxide (510 ppm [CO2]), as well as combined treatments (TD, TCO2, DCO2 and TDCO2). The .sup.13 C enrichment of respired CO.sub.2 and of phospholipid fatty acids (PLFAs) was determined after 24 h. .sup.13 C-glycine incorporation into the biomarker PLFAs for specific microbial groups (Gram positive bacteria, Gram negative bacteria, actinobacteria and fungi) was quantified using gas chromatography-combustion-stable isotope ratio mass spectrometry (GC-C-IRMS).