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Soil microbial biomass increases along elevational gradients in the tropics and subtropics but not elsewhere
Author(s) -
He Xianjin,
Hou Enqing,
Veen G. F.,
Ellwood M. D. Far,
Dijkstra Paul,
Sui Xinghua,
Zhang Shuang,
Wen Dazhi,
Chu Chengjin
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
global ecology and biogeography
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.164
H-Index - 152
eISSN - 1466-8238
pISSN - 1466-822X
DOI - 10.1111/geb.13017
Subject(s) - subtropics , environmental science , ecosystem , tropics , biomass (ecology) , transect , nutrient cycle , terrestrial ecosystem , ecology , global warming , soil carbon , tropical climate , global change , carbon cycle , cycling , climate change , nutrient , soil water , biology , geography , soil science , forestry
Abstract Aim Our aim is to use elevational gradients to quantify the relationship between temperature and ecosystem functioning. Ecosystem functions such as decomposition, nutrient cycling and carbon storage are linked with the amount of microbial biomass in the soil. Previous studies have shown variable relationships between elevation and soil microbial biomass (SMB). Understanding the biological mechanisms linking SMB with elevational gradients will shed light on the environmental impacts of global warming. Location Global. Time period 2002–2018. Major taxa studied Soil microbes. Method We performed a global meta‐analysis of the relationships between SMB and elevation. Data were collected from 59 studies of 73 elevational transects from around the world. Results We found no consistent global relationship between SMB and elevation. SMB increased significantly with elevation in the tropics and subtropics, but not in other climate zones. However, we found consistent positive relationships between SMB, soil organic carbon and total nitrogen concentrations. Main conclusions Our results suggest that global warming will impact tropical and subtropical ecosystems more severely than colder regions. Tropical ecosystems, already at risk from species extinctions, will likely experience declines in SMB as the climate warms, resulting in losses of fundamental ecosystem functions such as nutrient cycling and carbon storage.