Long-term warming-induced trophic downgrading in the soil microbial food web
Borg Dahl, Mathilde (University of Greifswald. Institute of Microbiology)
Söllinger, Andrea (UiT the Arctic University of Norway. Department of Arctic and Marine Biology)
Sigurðsson, Páll (Agricultural University of Iceland)
Janssens, Ivan A. (Universiteit Antwerpen. Department of Biology)
Peñuelas, Josep (Centre de Recerca Ecològica i d'Aplicacions Forestals)
Sigurdsson, Bjarni D. (Agricultural University of Iceland)
Richter, Andreas A. (University of Vienna. Centre for Microbiology and Environmental Systems Science)
Tveit, Alexander Tøsdal (UiT the Arctic University of Norway. Department of Arctic and Marine Biology)
Urich, Tim (University of Greifswald. Institute of Microbiology)

Date:	2023
Abstract:	Climatic warming has been hypothesized to accelerate organic matter decomposition by soil microorganisms and thereby enhance carbon (C) release to the atmosphere. However, the long-term consequences of soil warming on belowground biota interactions are poorly understood. Here we investigate how geothermal warming by 6 °C for more than 50 years affects soil microbiota. Using metatranscriptomics we obtained comprehensive profiles of the prokaryotic, eukaryotic and viral players of the soil microbial food web. When compared to ambient soil temperature conditions, we found pronounced differences in taxa abundances within and between trophic modules of the soil food web. Specifically, we observed a 'trophic downgrading' at elevated temperature, with soil fauna decreasing in abundance, while predatory bacteria and viruses became relatively more abundant. We propose that the drivers for this shift are previously observed decreases in microbial biomass and soil organic carbon, and the increase in soil bulk density (decrease in soil porosity) at elevated temperature. We conclude that a trophic downgrading may have important implications for soil carbon sequestration and nutrient dynamics in a warming world.
Grants:	European Commission 606895 Agencia Estatal de Investigación TED2021-132627B-I00 Agència de Gestió d'Ajuts Universitaris i de Recerca 2021/SGR-1333
Note:	Altres ajuts: the Fundación Ramón Areces grant CIVP20A6621.
Rights:	Aquest document està subjecte a una llicència d'ús Creative Commons. Es permet la reproducció total o parcial i la comunicació pública de l'obra, sempre que no sigui amb finalitats comercials, i sempre que es reconegui l'autoria de l'obra original. No es permet la creació d'obres derivades.
Language:	Anglès
Document:	Article ; recerca ; Versió acceptada per publicar
Subject:	Climate change ; Global warming ; Grassland ; Microbial food web ; Soil ecology ; Trophic interactions
Published in:	Soil biology and biochemistry, Vol. 181 (June 2023) , art. 109044, ISSN 0038-0717

DOI: 10.1016/j.soilbio.2023.109044

Available from: 2025-06-30 Postprint

The record appears in these collections:
Research literature > UAB research groups literature > Research Centres and Groups (research output) > Experimental sciences > CREAF (Centre de Recerca Ecològica i d'Aplicacions Forestals)
Articles > Research articles
Articles > Published articles