Plant litter chemistry drives long‐lasting changes in the catabolic capacities of soil microbial communities

作者：Malo Y. Bourget, Nicolas Fanin, Nathalie Fromin, Stephan Hättenschwiler, Catherine Roumet, Ammar Shihan, Raoul Huys, Marie Sauvadet, Grégoire T. Freschet · 发表于：Functional Ecology · 年份：2023 · DOI：10.1111/1365-2435.14379 · 被引用次数：37 · 研究领域：Microbial Community Ecology and Physiology、Soil Carbon and Nitrogen Dynamics、Soil and Water Nutrient Dynamics

Abstract Although microbial communities play an important role in explaining plant litter decomposition rates, whether and how litter chemistry may alter catabolic capacities of soil microbial communities remains poorly studied. During a 1‐year litter decomposition experiment of 12 herbaceous species with contrasting litter chemistry, we examined the effect of plant litter type (roots vs. leaves) and litter chemical traits on the resulting capacity of soil microbial communities to degrade a wide range of carbon substrates of variable complexity (MicroResp™ method). Litter chemistry impacted both the total catabolic activity as well as specific catabolic capacities of microbial communities. In the early stages of litter decomposition total catabolic activity was mainly influenced by the amount of C and N in litter leachates, and litter N, P and Mg, then, later, by lignin concentrations. Some specific catabolic capacities could also be related to litter initial chemistry. Overall, litter trait effects on soil microbial communities decreased over time and the relative importance of traits shifted during the decomposition process. Our results highlight that litter chemistry is a strong driver of catabolic capacities of microbial decomposers and, while its effect fades with time, it remains substantial throughout the litter decomposition process. These long‐lasting effects of litter chemistry suggest a persistent control on microbial catabolic capacities in ecosystems with recurre...