Soil microbial respiration in arctic soil does not acclimate to temperature

Hartley, I.P., Hopkins, D.W., Garnett, M.H., Sommerkorn, M. and Wookey, P.A. (2008) Soil microbial respiration in arctic soil does not acclimate to temperature. Ecology Letters, 11(10), pp. 1092-1100. (doi: 10.1111/j.1461-0248.2008.01223.x)

Abstract

Warming-induced release of CO₂ from the large carbon (C) stores in arctic soils could accelerate climate change. However, declines in the response of soil respiration to warming in long-term experiments suggest that microbial activity acclimates to temperature, greatly reducing the potential for enhanced C losses. As reduced respiration rates with time could be equally caused by substrate depletion, evidence for thermal acclimation remains controversial. To overcome this problem, we carried out a cooling experiment with soils from arctic Sweden. If acclimation causes the reduction in soil respiration observed after experimental warming, then it should subsequently lead to an increase in respiration rates after cooling. We demonstrate that thermal acclimation did not occur following cooling. Rather, during the 90 days after cooling, a further reduction in the soil respiration rate was observed, which was only reversed by extended re-exposure to warmer temperatures. We conclude that over the time scale of a few weeks to months, warming-induced changes in the microbial community in arctic soils will amplify the instantaneous increase in the rates of CO₂ production and thus enhance C losses potentially accelerating the rate of 21st century climate change.

• Item Type: Articles
• Keywords: acclimation, adaptation, arctic, carbon cycling, climate change, CO2, microbial community, respiration, soil, temperature
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Garnett, Dr Mark
• Authors: Hartley, I.P., Hopkins, D.W., Garnett, M.H., Sommerkorn, M., and Wookey, P.A.
• Subjects: G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > GE Environmental Sciences
• College/School: College of Science and Engineering > Scottish Universities Environmental Research Centre
• Journal Name: Ecology Letters
• Publisher: Blackwell
• ISSN: 1461-023X
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2008 Blackwell Publishing
• First Published: First published in Ecology Letters 11(10) :1092-1100
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced in accordance with the copyright policy of the publisher

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