Impact of Climate Warming and Plant Invasion on the Soil Microbial Community in Alpine Zones

Alpine ecosystems, particularly vulnerable to climate warming and plant invasion, experience significant shifts in soil microbial communities due to changes in plant composition. A study in Tongariro National Park, New Zealand, found that the invasion of Common Heather (Calluna vulgaris) reduced arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) colonization in native Red tussock grass (Chionochloa rubra), decreased plant size and cover, yet did not alter general microbial group proportions. Additionally, a global analysis using the Warming and Removal in Mountains (WaRM) network revealed that removing dominant plant species significantly impacted fungal and bacterial abundances, while warming had no significant effect. Elevation played a crucial role in microbial biomass and composition, highlighting the importance of understanding alpine elevational gradients for predicting global change impacts on these ecosystems.

Moyle, D. Impact of Climate Warming and Plant Invasion on the Soil Microbial Community in Alpine Zones. https://doi.org/10.26686/wgtn.20326659