Methane, microbes and models: fundamental understanding of the soil methane cycle for future predictions.

Methane is an important greenhouse gas and microbes in the environment play major roles in both global methane emissions and terrestrial sinks. However, a full mechanistic understanding of the response of the methane cycle to global change is lacking. Recent studies suggest that a number of biological and environmental processes can influence the net flux of methane from soils to the atmosphere but the magnitude and direction of their impact are still debated. Here, we synthesize recent knowledge on soil microbial and biogeochemical process and the impacts of climate change factors on the soil methane cycle. We focus on (i) identification of the source and magnitude of methane flux and the global factors that may change the flux rate and magnitude in the future, (ii) the microbial communities responsible for methane production and terrestrial sinks, and (iii) how they will respond to future climatic scenarios and the consequences for feedback responses at a global scale. We also identify the research gaps in each of the topics identified above, provide evidence which can be used to demonstrate microbial regulation of methane cycle and suggest that incorporation of microbial data from emerging -omic technologies could be harnessed to increase the predictive power of simulation models.

Measuring the 13C content of soil-respired CO2 using a novel open chamber system.

Carbon dioxide respired by soils comes from both autotrophic and heterotrophic respiration. 13C has proved useful in differentiating between these two sources, but requires the collection and analysis of CO2 efflux from the soil. We have developed a novel, open chamber system which allows for the accurate and precise quantification of the delta13C of soil-respired CO2. The chamber was tested using online analyses, by configuring a GasBench II and continuous flow isotope ratio mass spectrometer, to measure the delta13C of the chamber air every 120 s. CO2 of known delta13C value was passed through a column of sand and, using the chamber, the CO2 concentration stabilized rapidly, but 60 min was required before the delta13C value was stable and identical to the cylinder gas (-33.3 per thousand). Changing the chamber CO2 concentration between 200 and 900 micromol.mol(-1) did not affect the measured delta13C of the efflux. Measuring the delta13C of the CO2 efflux from soil cores in the laboratory gave a spread of +/-2 per thousand, attributed to heterogeneity in the soil organic matter and roots. Lateral air movement through dry sand led to a change in the delta13C of the surface efflux of up to 8 per thousand. The chamber was used to measure small transient changes (+/-2 per thousand) in the delta13C of soil-respired CO2 from a peaty podzol after gradual heating from 12 to 35 degrees C over 12 h. Finally, soil-respired CO2 was partitioned in a labelling study and the contribution of autotrophic and heterotrophic respiration to the total efflux determined. Potential applications for the chamber in the study of soil respiration are discussed.

The impact of defoliation on nitrogen translocation patterns in the woody invasive plant, Buddleia davidii.

The influence of defoliation on nitrogen (N) re-translocation and the source for N remobilisation by the invasive shrub, Buddleia davidii Franch. (buddleia) was determined. Eighty plants were grown over two growing seasons, and half were repeatedly defoliated by removing 66% of their leaf area. During the second season, the N supply was labelled with 15N (10 atom% enrichment), to distinguish the use of stored N (unlabelled) from N taken up by roots (labelled) for growth. Defoliation significantly decreased root (39%) and total biomass (26%). Old leaves were the main source of N for remobilisation which was accelerated and increased (by 50% in the second season) in response to defoliation. In spring, root uptake of N increased by 57% in defoliated plants. Thus, defoliation induced changes in N remobilisation and uptake as compensatory growth increased the demand for N. Continued leaf removal decreased the pool of stored N and caused a significant decline in biomass production, especially in roots (39%) and flowers (31%). This has important implications for the efficacy of defoliation as a control measure, as smaller roots suggest a reduced capacity for uptake of nutrients from the soil and reduced flower production may assist in reducing the invasive spread of the species. These findings clearly show that, although the success of B. davidii is associated, in part, with efficient remobilisation of N from storage, this advantage can be overcome by continued defoliation.