Summary
This meta-analysis synthesises empirical evidence on how repeated freeze–thaw cycles—a common disturbance in cold and temperate climates—affect soil microbial diversity and alter carbon and nitrogen biogeochemistry. By aggregating results across multiple studies, the authors identify consistent directional changes in microbial communities and nutrient cycling processes, providing quantified effect estimates relevant to understanding soil functioning under freeze–thaw regimes. The work contributes to predictions of how seasonal or climate-driven soil temperature fluctuations may reshape microbial-mediated soil processes.
UK applicability
Findings are relevant to UK upland, grassland, and arable soils subject to winter freeze–thaw cycles, particularly in Scotland and northern England. Understanding these microbial responses informs predictions of soil health and carbon–nitrogen dynamics under current and projected cold-season conditions.
Key measures
Soil microbial diversity indices, microbial biomass, carbon mineralisation, nitrogen cycling rates, and changes in microbial community composition following freeze–thaw cycles
Outcomes reported
The meta-analysis synthesised evidence on how repeated freeze–thaw cycles alter soil microbial community structure, diversity, and the dynamics of carbon and nitrogen cycling. The study quantified aggregate effects across multiple studies to identify consistent patterns in microbial and biogeochemical responses to freeze–thaw disturbance.
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