Winter ecology of a subalpine grassland:effects of snow removal on soil respiration, microbial structure and function

摘要: Seasonal snow cover provides essential insulation for mountain ecosystems, but expected changes in precipitation patterns and duration due to global warming can influence the activity of soil microbial communities. In turn, these have potential create new dynamics organic matter cycling. To assess effects experimental removal advanced spring conditions on carbon (C) nitrogen (N) dynamics, biomass structure communities, we performed an situ study a subalpine grassland Austrian Alps, conjunction with incubations under controlled conditions. We found substantial winter C-mineralisation high accumulation inorganic N topsoil, peaking at snowmelt. Soil doubled snow, paralleled by fivefold increase its C:N ratio, no apparent change bacteria-dominated community structure. Snow led series mild freeze-thaw cycles, which had minor CO2 production mineralisation. Incubated conditions, however, revealed impaired metabolism shortly after removal, characterised limited capacity both fresh plant-derived substrates existing (SOM), leading reduced priming effects. This effect was transient observed recovery respiration SOM towards end season indicated resilience short-lived disturbance field Bacteria showed higher uptake C during this phase. The temporary loss promotion bacteria over fungi likely impede cycling grasslands recurrent climate events, plausible implications nutrient availability plant-soil interactions.