Publication Details

Category Text Publication
Reference Category Journals
DOI 10.3389/fmicb.2016.01247
Title (Primary) Soil fungal:bacterial ratios are linked to altered carbon cycling
Author Malik, A.A.; Chowdhury, S.; Schlager, V.; Oliver, A.; Puissant, J.; Vazquez, P.G.M.; Jehmlich, N. ORCID logo ; von Bergen, M.; Griffiths, R.I.; Gleixner, G.
Source Titel Frontiers in Microbiology
Year 2016
Department MOLSYB
Volume 7
Page From art. 1247
Language englisch
Keywords bacteria, fungi, litter decomposition, proteomics, RNA sequencing, soil carbon, stable isotopes
UFZ wide themes RU3;
Abstract Despite several lines of observational evidence, there is a lack of consensus on whether higher fungal:bacterial (F:B) ratios directly cause higher soil carbon (C) storage. We employed RNA sequencing, protein profiling and isotope tracer techniques to evaluate whether differing F:B ratios are associated with differences in C storage. A mesocosm 13C labeled foliar litter decomposition experiment was performed in two soils that were similar in their physico-chemical properties but differed in microbial community structure, specifically their F:B ratio (determined by PLFA analyses, RNA sequencing and protein profiling; all three corroborating each other). Following litter addition, we observed a consistent increase in abundance of fungal phyla; and greater increases in the fungal dominated soil; implicating the role of fungi in litter decomposition. Litter derived 13C in respired CO2 was consistently lower, and residual 13C in bulk SOM was higher in high F:B soil demonstrating greater C storage potential in the F:B dominated soil. We conclude that in this soil system, the increased abundance of fungi in both soils and the altered C cycling patterns in the F:B dominated soils highlight the significant role of fungi in litter decomposition and indicate that F:B ratios are linked to higher C storage potential.
Persistent UFZ Identifier https://www.ufz.de/index.php?en=20939&ufzPublicationIdentifier=17828
Malik, A.A., Chowdhury, S., Schlager, V., Oliver, A., Puissant, J., Vazquez, P.G.M., Jehmlich, N., von Bergen, M., Griffiths, R.I., Gleixner, G. (2016):
Soil fungal:bacterial ratios are linked to altered carbon cycling
Front. Microbiol. 7 , art. 1247