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Microbial functional changes mark irreversible course of Tibetan grassland degradation

Author

Listed:
  • Andreas Breidenbach

    (University of Goettingen
    University of Tuebingen)

  • Per-Marten Schleuss

    (University of Bayreuth)

  • Shibin Liu

    (Chengdu University of Technology)

  • Dominik Schneider

    (University of Goettingen)

  • Michaela A. Dippold

    (University of Goettingen
    University of Tuebingen)

  • Tilman Haye

    (University of Kiel)

  • Georg Miehe

    (University of Marburg)

  • Felix Heitkamp

    (Northwest German Forest Research Institute)

  • Elke Seeber

    (Senckenberg Museum of Natural History Goerlitz)

  • Kyle Mason-Jones

    (Netherlands Institute of Ecology, Department of Terrestrial Ecology)

  • Xingliang Xu

    (Chinese Academy of Science
    Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS))

  • Yang Huanming

    (Beijing Genomics Institute)

  • Jianchu Xu

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Tsechoe Dorji

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS)
    Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Matthias Gube

    (University of Goettingen)

  • Helge Norf

    (Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research GmbH UFZ)

  • Jutta Meier

    (University of Koblenz-Landau)

  • Georg Guggenberger

    (Leibniz Universität Hannover)

  • Yakov Kuzyakov

    (University of Goettingen)

  • Sandra Spielvogel

    (University of Kiel)

Abstract

The Tibetan Plateau’s Kobresia pastures store 2.5% of the world’s soil organic carbon (SOC). Climate change and overgrazing render their topsoils vulnerable to degradation, with SOC stocks declining by 42% and nitrogen (N) by 33% at severely degraded sites. We resolved these losses into erosion accounting for two-thirds, and decreased carbon (C) input and increased SOC mineralization accounting for the other third, and confirmed these results by comparison with a meta-analysis of 594 observations. The microbial community responded to the degradation through altered taxonomic composition and enzymatic activities. Hydrolytic enzyme activities were reduced, while degradation of the remaining recalcitrant soil organic matter by oxidative enzymes was accelerated, demonstrating a severe shift in microbial functioning. This may irreversibly alter the world´s largest alpine pastoral ecosystem by diminishing its C sink function and nutrient cycling dynamics, negatively impacting local food security, regional water quality and climate.

Suggested Citation

  • Andreas Breidenbach & Per-Marten Schleuss & Shibin Liu & Dominik Schneider & Michaela A. Dippold & Tilman Haye & Georg Miehe & Felix Heitkamp & Elke Seeber & Kyle Mason-Jones & Xingliang Xu & Yang Hua, 2022. "Microbial functional changes mark irreversible course of Tibetan grassland degradation," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-10, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:13:y:2022:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-022-30047-7
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-30047-7
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Leiyi Chen & Li Liu & Chao Mao & Shuqi Qin & Jun Wang & Futing Liu & Sergey Blagodatsky & Guibiao Yang & Qiwen Zhang & Dianye Zhang & Jianchun Yu & Yuanhe Yang, 2018. "Nitrogen availability regulates topsoil carbon dynamics after permafrost thaw by altering microbial metabolic efficiency," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 9(1), pages 1-11, December.
    2. Zhuang, Minghao & Gongbuzeren, & Zhang, Jian & Li, Wenjun, 2019. "Community-based seasonal movement grazing maintains lower greenhouse gas emission intensity on Qinghai-Tibet Plateau of China," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 85(C), pages 155-160.
    3. Jane Qiu, 2016. "Trouble in Tibet," Nature, Nature, vol. 529(7585), pages 142-145, January.
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