Reduced microbial stability in the active layer is associated with carbon loss under alpine permafrost degradation

• Published in: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
• Main Authors: Wu, Ming-Hui, Chen, Sheng-Yun, Chen, Jian-Wei, Xue, Kai, Chen, Shi-Long, Wang, Xiao-Ming, Chen, Tuo, Kang, Shi-Chang, Rui, Jun-Peng, Thies, Janice E., Bardgett, Richard D., Wang, Yan-Fen
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: National Academy of Sciences 2021
• Subjects: Biological Sciences; permafrost
• Online Access: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8237688/; http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/34131077; https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2025321118

Permafrost degradation may induce soil carbon (C) loss, critical for global C cycling, and be mediated by microbes. Despite larger C stored within the active layer of permafrost regions, which are more affected by warming, and the critical roles of Qinghai-Tibet Plateau in C cycling, most previous studies focused on the permafrost layer and in high-latitude areas. We demonstrate in situ that permafrost degradation alters the diversity and potentially decreases the stability of active layer microbial communities. These changes are associated with soil C loss and potentially a positive C feedback. This study provides insights into microbial-mediated mechanisms responsible for C loss within the active layer in degraded permafrost, aiding in the modeling of C emission under future scenarios.