Arctic soil microbial diversity in a changing world

• Published in: Research in microbiology Vol. 166; no. 10; pp. 796 - 813
• Main Authors: Blaud, Aimeric, Lerch, Thomas Z., Phoenix, Gareth K., Osborn, A. Mark
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: France Elsevier Masson SAS 01.12.2015
• Subjects: anthropogenic activities; Arctic region; Arctic Regions; Biodiversity; biogeochemical cycles; Carbon; Carbon cycling; Ecosystem; ecosystems; environmental factors; frigid soils; functional diversity; Gases; Global change; global warming; greenhouse gases; Microbial Consortia - genetics; Microbial Consortia - physiology; Microbial functional diversity; Nitrogen cycling; Permafrost; Phylogeny; Soil active layer; Soil Microbiology; Arctic Regions; PN, Arctic; Arctic region; Permafrost; Nitrogen cycling; Microbial functional diversity; Carbon cycling; Global change; Soil active layer
• ISSN: 0923-2508; 1769-7123; 1769-7123
• DOI: 10.1016/j.resmic.2015.07.013

The Arctic region is a unique environment, subject to extreme environmental conditions, shaping life therein and contributing to its sensitivity to environmental change. The Arctic is under increasing environmental pressure from anthropogenic activity and global warming. The unique microbial diversity of Arctic regions, that has a critical role in biogeochemical cycling and in the production of greenhouse gases, will be directly affected by and affect, global changes. This article reviews current knowledge and understanding of microbial taxonomic and functional diversity in Arctic soils, the contributions of microbial diversity to ecosystem processes and their responses to environmental change.