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Microbial functional genes commonly respond to elevated carbon dioxide.

Microbial functional genes commonly respond to elevated carbon dioxide.

Authors :
He Z
Deng Y
Xu M
Li J
Liang J
Xiong J
Yu H
Wu B
Wu L
Xue K
Shi S
Carrillo Y
Van Nostrand JD
Hobbie SE
Reich PB
Schadt CW
Kent AD
Pendall E
Wallenstein M
Luo Y
Yan Q
Zhou J
Source :
Environment international [Environ Int] 2020 Nov; Vol. 144, pp. 106068. Date of Electronic Publication: 2020 Aug 29.
Publication Year :
2020

Abstract

Atmospheric CO <subscript>2</subscript> concentration is increasing, largely due to anthropogenic activities. Previous studies of individual free-air CO <subscript>2</subscript> enrichment (FACE) experimental sites have shown significant impacts of elevated CO <subscript>2</subscript> (eCO <subscript>2</subscript> ) on soil microbial communities; however, no common microbial response patterns have yet emerged, challenging our ability to predict ecosystem functioning and sustainability in the future eCO <subscript>2</subscript> environment. Here we analyzed 66 soil microbial communities from five FACE sites, and showed common microbial response patterns to eCO <subscript>2</subscript> , especially for key functional genes involved in carbon and nitrogen fixation (e.g., pcc/acc for carbon fixation, nifH for nitrogen fixation), carbon decomposition (e.g., amyA and pulA for labile carbon decomposition, mnp and lcc for recalcitrant carbon decomposition), and greenhouse gas emissions (e.g., mcrA for methane production, norB for nitrous oxide production) across five FACE sites. Also, the relative abundance of those key genes was generally increased and directionally associated with increased biomass, soil carbon decomposition, and soil moisture. In addition, a further literature survey of more disparate FACE experimental sites indicated increased biomass, soil carbon decay, nitrogen fixation, methane and nitrous oxide emissions, plant and soil carbon and nitrogen under eCO <subscript>2</subscript> . A conceptual framework was developed to link commonly responsive functional genes with ecosystem processes, such as pcc/acc vs. soil carbon storage, amyA/pulA/mnp/lcc vs. soil carbon decomposition, and nifH vs. nitrogen availability, suggesting that such common responses of microbial functional genes may have the potential to predict ecosystem functioning and sustainability in the future eCO <subscript>2</subscript> environment.<br /> (Copyright © 2020 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
1873-6750
Volume :
144
Database :
MEDLINE
Journal :
Environment international
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
32871382
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2020.106068