The role of amoeboid protists and the microbial community in moss-rich terrestrial ecosystems: Biogeochemical implications for the carbon budget and carbon cycle, especially at higher latitudes

Publication Status is "Submitted" Or "In Press: 
Yes
LDEO Publication: 
Yes
Publication Type: 
Year of Publication: 
2008
Authors: 
Journal Title: 
Journal of Eukaryotic Microbiology
Journal Date: 
May-Jun
Volume: 
55
Issue: 
3
Pages: 
145-150
ISBN Number: 
1066-5234
Accession Number: 
ISI:000255532400002
LDEO Publication Number: 
7088
Abstract: 

Moss-rich terrestrial communities are widely distributed in low- and high-latitude environments, covering vast surface areas in the boreal forests and tundra. The microbial biota in these organic-rich communities may contribute substantially to the carbon budget of terrestrial communities and the carbon cycle on a global scale. Recent research is reported on the carbon content of microbial communities in some temperate and high-latitude moss communities. The total carbon content and potential respiratory carbon dioxide (CO2) efflux is reported for bacteria, microflagellates, naked amoebae, and testate amoebae within sampling sites at a northeastern forest and the tundra at Toolik, Alaska. Quantitative models of the predicted total CO2 efflux from the microbes, based on microscopic observations and enumeration of the microbiota in samples from the research sites, are described and predictions are compared with published field-based data of CO2 efflux. The significance of the predictions for climate change and global warming are discussed.

Notes: 

296GVTimes Cited:0Cited References Count:50

DOI: 
DOI 10.1111/j.1550-7408.2008.00319.x