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Reduced feeding activity of soil detritivores under warmer and drier conditions

Author

Listed:
  • Madhav P. Thakur

    (German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research Halle–Jena–Leipzig
    Leipzig University)

  • Peter B. Reich

    (University of Minnesota
    University of Western Sydney)

  • Sarah E. Hobbie

    (University of Minnesota)

  • Artur Stefanski

    (University of Minnesota)

  • Roy Rich

    (University of Minnesota)

  • Karen E. Rice

    (University of Minnesota)

  • William C. Eddy

    (University of Illinois Urbana–Champaign)

  • Nico Eisenhauer

    (German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research Halle–Jena–Leipzig
    Leipzig University)

Abstract

Anthropogenic warming is projected to trigger positive feedbacks to climate by enhancing carbon losses from the soil 1 . While such losses are, in part, due to increased decomposition of organic matter by invertebrate detritivores, it is unknown how detritivore feeding activity will change with warming 2 , especially under drought conditions. Here, using four-year manipulation experiments in two North American boreal forests, we investigate how temperature (ambient, ambient + 1.7 °C and ambient + 3.4 °C) and rainfall (ambient and –40% of the summer precipitation) perturbations influence detritivore feeding activity. In contrast to general expectations 1,3 , warming had negligible net effects on detritivore feeding activity at ambient precipitation. However, when combined with precipitation reductions, warming decreased feeding activity by ~14%. Across all plots and dates, detritivore feeding activity was positively associated with bulk soil microbial respiration. These results suggest slower rates of decomposition of soil organic matter and thus reduced positive feedbacks to climate under anthropogenic climate change.

Suggested Citation

  • Madhav P. Thakur & Peter B. Reich & Sarah E. Hobbie & Artur Stefanski & Roy Rich & Karen E. Rice & William C. Eddy & Nico Eisenhauer, 2018. "Reduced feeding activity of soil detritivores under warmer and drier conditions," Nature Climate Change, Nature, vol. 8(1), pages 75-78, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcli:v:8:y:2018:i:1:d:10.1038_s41558-017-0032-6
    DOI: 10.1038/s41558-017-0032-6
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    Cited by:

    1. Xiaoming Kang & Liang Yan & Lijuan Cui & Xiaodong Zhang & Yanbin Hao & Haidong Wu & Yuan Zhang & Wei Li & Kerou Zhang & Zhongqing Yan & Yong Li & Jinzhi Wang, 2018. "Reduced Carbon Dioxide Sink and Methane Source under Extreme Drought Condition in an Alpine Peatland," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(11), pages 1-15, November.
    2. Rui Yin & Wenkuan Qin & Xudong Wang & Dong Xie & Hao Wang & Hongyang Zhao & Zhenhua Zhang & Jin-Sheng He & Martin Schädler & Paul Kardol & Nico Eisenhauer & Biao Zhu, 2023. "Experimental warming causes mismatches in alpine plant-microbe-fauna phenology," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-9, December.
    3. Guillaume Patoine & Nico Eisenhauer & Simone Cesarz & Helen R. P. Phillips & Xiaofeng Xu & Lihua Zhang & Carlos A. Guerra, 2022. "Drivers and trends of global soil microbial carbon over two decades," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-10, December.

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