Site- and horizon-specific patterns of microbial community structure and enzyme activities in permafrost-affected soils of Greenland.

ABSTRACT: Permafrost-affected soils in the Northern latitudes store huge amounts of organic carbon (OC) that is prone to microbial degradation and subsequent release of greenhouse gasses to the atmosphere. In Greenland, the consequences of permafrost thaw have only recently been addressed, and predictions on its impact on the carbon budget are thus still highly uncertain. However, the fate of OC is not only determined by abiotic factors, but closely tied to microbial activity. We investigated eight soil profiles in northeast Greenland comprising two sites with typical tundra vegetation and one wet fen site. We assessed microbial community structure and diversity (SSU rRNA gene tag sequencing, quantification of bacteria, archaea and fungi), and measured hydrolytic and oxidative enzyme activities. Sam

SUBMITTER: Gittel A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4199454 | biostudies-literature | 2014

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature