Response of soil microbial communities to altered precipitation: A global synthesis

• DOI: 10.1111/geb.12761
• Publication Date: 2018-07-04T09:51:13Z
• Authors: Zhenghu Zhou; Chuankuan Wang; Yiqi Luo
• Keywords: Soil carbon; Global Change; Soil texture; Soil microbiology

Abstract Aim Climate change intensifies the hydrological cycle and consequently alters precipitation regimes. Accurately assessing future carbon (C) budgets depends on understanding influence of altered both aboveground C cycling belowground processes. Our goal was to explore generalities mechanisms responses soil microbial communities implications for in terrestrial ecosystems. Location Global. Time period 2001–2017. Major taxa studied Soil microbes. Methods We used meta‐analytical technique synthesize data 41 increased (IPPT) 53 decreased (DPPT) studies from 65 publications worldwide. The covered broad variations climate, percentage change, experimental duration properties. Results fungi bacteria ratio did not show a water‐tolerant shift, but community compositions within did. Microbial biomass showed higher response moderate IPPT than DPPT, whereas it more sensitive extreme DPPT IPPT, suggesting that are double asymmetric. However, such asymmetric varied with climate humidity texture: at xeric sites mesic sites, responsive humid areas; coarse‐textured soils fine‐textured soils. In addition, positively correlated aboveground/belowground plant biomass, respiration organic content. Main conclusions meta‐analysis provides first evidence varies texture. Given coordinated plant–soil–microorganism continuum, our synthesis extends model framework modelling ecosystem global change.