Microbial carbon use and associated changes in microbial community structure in high-Arctic tundra soils under elevated temperature

Abstract

In the high-Arctic, increased temperature results in permafrost thawing and increased primary production. This fresh plant-derived material is predicted to prime microbial consortia for degradation of the organic matter stored in tundra soils. However, the effects of warming and plant input on the microbial community structure is hardly known. We assessed the use of glycine, a readily available C and N source, and cellulose, a long C-biopolymer, by prokaryotic and fungal communities using DNA-SIP in tundra soils incubated at 8 °C or 16 °C. Glycine addition contributed mainly to instantaneous microbial carbon use and priming of soil organic matter decomposition, particularly under elevated temperature. By contrast, cellulose was linked to the dominant and active microbial communities, with potential carbon stabilization in soils. Our findings stress the importance of the type of plant-derived material in relation to microbial metabolism in high-Arctic soils and their consequences for the carbon cycle in response to global warming.