Transient hypoxia drives soil microbial community dynamics and biogeochemistry during human decomposition.

ABSTRACT: Human decomposition in terrestrial ecosystems is a dynamic process creating localized hot spots of soil microbial activity. Longer-term (beyond a few months) impacts on decomposer microbial communities are poorly characterized and do not typically connect microbial communities to biogeochemistry, limiting our understanding of decomposer communities and their functions. We performed separate year-long human decomposition trials, one starting in spring, another in winter, integrating bacterial and fungal community structure and abundances with soil physicochemistry and biogeochemistry to identify key drivers of microbial community change. In both trials, soil acidification, elevated microbial respiration, and reduced soil oxygen concentrations occurred. Changes in soil oxygen concentrations

SUBMITTER: Taylor LS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11879408 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature