Multisubstrate DNA stable isotope probing reveals guild structure of bacteria that mediate soil carbon cycling
Samuel E. Barnett, Nicholas D. Youngblut, Chantal Koechli, Daniel H. Buckley
Abstract
C assimilation dynamics. We show that C-source bioavailability explained significant variation in both C mineralization dynamics and guild structure, and that the growth dynamics of bacterial guilds differed significantly in response to C addition. We also demonstrate that the guild structure explains significant variation in the biogeographical distribution of bacteria at continental and global scales. These results suggest that an understanding of in situ growth dynamics is essential for understanding microbial contributions to soil C cycling. We interpret these findings in the context of bacterial life history strategies and their relationship to terrestrial C cycling.