Open AccessTemperature sensitivity of permafrost carbon release mediated by mineral and microbial properties
Author(s) -
Shuqi Qin,
Dan Kou,
Chengqiong Mao,
Yongliang Chen,
Leiyi Chen,
Yuanhe Yang
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
science advances
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.928
H-Index - 146
ISSN - 2375-2548
DOI - 10.1126/sciadv.abe3596
Subject(s) - permafrost , carbon fibers , mineral , environmental chemistry , environmental science , earth science , soil science , chemistry , ecology , geology , materials science , biology , composite material , composite number
Temperature sensitivity ( Q 10 ) of permafrost carbon (C) release upon thaw is a vital parameter for projecting permafrost C dynamics under climate warming. However, it remains unclear how mineral protection interacts with microbial properties and intrinsic recalcitrance to affect permafrost C fate. Here, we sampled permafrost soils across a 1000-km transect on the Tibetan Plateau and conducted two laboratory incubations over 400- and 28-day durations to explore patterns and drivers of permafrost C release and its temperature response after thaw. We find that mineral protection and microbial properties are two types of crucial predictors of permafrost C dynamics upon thaw. Both high C release and Q 10 are associated with weak organo-mineral associations but high microbial abundances and activities, whereas high microbial diversity corresponds to low Q 10 The attenuating effects of mineral protection and the dual roles of microbial properties would make the permafrost C-climate feedback more complex than previously thought.