Summary
This translocation study reveals that Mollisols with high organic matter (>5%) are more vulnerable to climate warming than carbon-poor soils, with preferential loss of labile carbon fractions. The differential response is explained by microbial community structure: C-rich soils harbour more resistant bacterial communities but more sensitive fungal communities, resulting in stronger carbon metabolism and metabolic flexibility. These findings suggest that soil-climate feedback predictions must account for microbial community stability and metabolic capacity alongside initial carbon content.
UK applicability
UK soils, particularly high-carbon upland and peatland systems, may face similar vulnerabilities to warming-induced carbon loss. However, UK climate change projections and soil types differ substantially from those in the translocation source region; localised UK translocation or long-term field warming studies would be needed to validate applicability to British Mollisol equivalents.
Key measures
Soil organic matter content (2–9%), microbial β diversity, bacterial and fungal community composition, functional carbon groups (O-alkyl, O-aryl, carboxyl carbon), soil carbon metabolism and utilisation rates
Outcomes reported
The study measured soil carbon component stability and microbial community composition in Mollisols translocated across temperature gradients to simulate climate change. It assessed how bacterial and fungal diversity, metabolic capacity, and carbon utilisation ability varied with organic matter content in response to warming.
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