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Higher temperature sensitivity of forest soil methane oxidation in colder climates

Author

Listed:
  • Baizhi Jiang

    (Northeast Forestry University)

  • Hongyang Chen

    (Northeast Forestry University)

  • Zhenyu Wei

    (Northeast Forestry University)

  • Junqi Zhang

    (Northeast Forestry University)

  • Muxi Guo

    (Northeast Forestry University)

  • Taoge Yang

    (Northeast Forestry University)

  • Xuhui Zhou

    (Northeast Forestry University)

Abstract

Forest soils, serving as an important sink for atmospheric methane (CH4), modulate the global CH4 budget. However, the direction and magnitude of the forest soil CH4 sink under warming remain uncertain, partly because the temperature response of microbial CH4 oxidation varies substantially across geographical scales. Here, we reveal the spatial variation in the response of forest soil microbial CH4 oxidation to warming, along with the driving factors, across 84 sites spanning a broad latitudinal gradient in eastern China. Our results show that the temperature sensitivity of soil microbial CH4 oxidation significantly declines with increasing site mean annual temperature, with a range of 0.03 to 0.77 μg CH4 g–1 soil d–1 °C–1. Moreover, soil resources and type II methanotrophs play crucial roles in shaping the temperature sensitivity of soil microbial CH4 oxidation. Our findings highlight the importance of incorporating climate, soil resources, and methanotroph groups into biogeochemical models to more realistically predict forest soil CH4 sink under warming.

Suggested Citation

  • Baizhi Jiang & Hongyang Chen & Zhenyu Wei & Junqi Zhang & Muxi Guo & Taoge Yang & Xuhui Zhou, 2025. "Higher temperature sensitivity of forest soil methane oxidation in colder climates," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 16(1), pages 1-9, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:16:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-025-57763-0
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-57763-0
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    References listed on IDEAS

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