How does climate change affect the hidden world of soil microbes and their role in phosphorus cycling? This research investigates the effects of warming and precipitation changes on key phosphorus (P) cycling genes (PCGs) in alpine meadow soils on the Tibetan Plateau. Using metagenomics, the researchers analyzed the individual and combined effects of warming and altered precipitation on soil PCGs and P transformation. Warming and increased precipitation raised bioavailable P, mainly caused by augmented hydrolysis of organic P compounds. Individual climate change factors decreased PCG abundance, except for warming combined with increased precipitation. Pyruvate metabolism, phosphotransferase system, oxidative phosphorylation, and purine metabolism (“intracellular” PCG) were closely correlated with P pools under climate change conditions. This study demonstrates the complex interactions between climate change, soil microbial communities, and P cycling. The findings highlight the importance of considering both individual and combined effects of climate change factors when assessing the impact on soil nutrient dynamics and ecosystem functioning, in order to improve climate models and further research.
Published in Global Change Biology, this research is highly relevant to the journal's focus on understanding the interactions between biological systems and global environmental change. The study investigates how climate change influences microbial phosphorus cycling in soils, contributing valuable insights to the journal's scope of understanding ecosystem responses to environmental stressors.