Changes in nutrient availability substantially alter bacteria and extracellular enzymatic activities in Antarctic soils.

ABSTRACT: In polar regions, global warming has accelerated the melting of glacial and buried ice, resulting in meltwater run-off and the mobilization of surface nutrients. Yet, the short-term effects of altered nutrient regimes on the diversity and function of soil microbiota in polyextreme environments such as Antarctica, remains poorly understood. We studied these effects by constructing soil microcosms simulating augmented carbon, nitrogen, and moisture. Addition of nitrogen significantly decreased the diversity of Antarctic soil microbial assemblages, compared with other treatments. Other treatments led to a shift in the relative abundances of these microbial assemblages although the distributional patterns were random. Only nitrogen treatment appeared to lead to distinct community structural pa

SUBMITTER: Nair GR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11107947 | biostudies-literature | 2024 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature