Effects of soil organic matter properties and microbial community composition on enzyme activities in cryoturbated arctic soils.

ABSTRACT: Enzyme-mediated decomposition of soil organic matter (SOM) is controlled, amongst other factors, by organic matter properties and by the microbial decomposer community present. Since microbial community composition and SOM properties are often interrelated and both change with soil depth, the drivers of enzymatic decomposition are hard to dissect. We investigated soils from three regions in the Siberian Arctic, where carbon rich topsoil material has been incorporated into the subsoil (cryoturbation). We took advantage of this subduction to test if SOM properties shape microbial community composition, and to identify controls of both on enzyme activities. We found that microbial community composition (estimated by phospholipid fatty acid analysis), was similar in cryoturbated material and i

SUBMITTER: Schnecker J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3976392 | biostudies-literature | 2014

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature