全球大气CO2浓度升高对土壤微生物的影响

全球大气CO2浓度升高对土壤微生物生态系统的影响已引起广泛关注。本文从土壤微生物群落结构、微生物区系、土壤呼吸、微生物生物量以及土壤酶活性方面对大气高浓度CO2的响应进行了综述。由于提供高浓度CO2的实验系统、所选植物材料以及土壤特性等的不同,大气CO2浓度升高对土壤微生物群落结构、微生物区系、土壤呼吸、微生物生物量以及土壤酶活性的影响并未得出一致结论。但高浓度CO2对土壤微生物生态系统的影响是存在的。     

Effect of Elevated CO2 and Drought on Soil Microbial Communities Associated with Andropogon gerardii

Our understanding of the effects of elevated atmospheric CO2, singly and In combination with other environmental changes,on plant-soil interactions is incomplete. Elevated CO2 effects on C4 plants, though smaller than on C3 species, are mediated mostly via decreased stomatal conductance and thus water loss. Therefore, we characterized the interactive effect of elevated CO2 and drought on soil microbial communities associated with a dominant C4 prairie grass, Andropogon gerardii Vitman. Elevated CO2 and drought both affected resources available to the soil microbial community. For example, elevated CO2 increased the soil C:N ratio and water content during drought, whereas drought alone decreased both. Drought significantly decreased soil microbial biomass. In contrast, elevated COz increased biomass while ameliorating biomass decreases that were induced under drought. Total and active direct bacterial counts and carbon substrate use (overall use and number of used sources) increased significantly under elevated CO2. Denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis analysis revealed that drought and elevated CO2, singly and combined, did not affect the soil bacteria community structure.We conclude that elevated CO2 alone increased bacterial abundance and microbial activity and carbon use, probably in response to increased root exudation. Elevated CO2 also limited drought-related impacts on microbial activity and biomass,which likely resulted from decreased plant water use under elevated CO2. These are among the first results showing that elevated CO2 and drought work in opposition to modulate plant-associated soil-bacteria responses,which should then Influence soil resources and plant and ecosystem function.     

Stimulation of microbial extracellular enzyme activities by elevated CO2 depends on soil aggregate size

Increased belowground carbon (C) transfer by plant roots at elevated CO₂ may change properties of the microbial community in the rhizosphere. Previous investigations that focused on total soil organic C or total microbial C showed contrasting results: small increase, small decrease or no changes. We evaluated the effect of 5 years of elevated CO₂ (550 ppm) on four extracellular enzymes: β‐glucosidase, chitinase, phosphatase, and sulfatase. We expected microorganisms to be differently localized in aggregates of various sizes and, therefore analyzed microbial biomass (C_mic by SIR) and enzyme activities in three aggregate‐size classes: large macro‐ (> 2 mm), small macro‐ (0.25–2 mm), and microaggregates (< 0.25 mm). To estimate the potential enzyme production, we activated microorganisms by substrate (glucose and nutrients) amendment. Although C_total and C_mic as well as the activities of β‐glucosidase, phosphatase, and sulfatase were unaffected in bulk soil and in aggregate‐size classes by elevated CO₂, significant changes were observed in potential enzyme production after substrate amendment. After adding glucose, enzyme activities under elevated CO₂ were 1.2–1.9‐fold higher than under ambient CO₂. This indicates the increased activity of microorganisms, which leads to accelerated C turnover in soil under elevated CO₂. Significantly higher chitinase activity in bulk soil and in large macroaggregates under elevated CO₂ revealed an increased contribution of fungi to turnover processes. At the same time, less chitinase activity in microaggregates underlined microaggregate stability and the difficulties for fungal hyphae penetrating them. We conclude that quantitative and qualitative changes of C input by plants into the soil at elevated CO₂ affect microbial community functioning, but not its total content. Future studies should therefore focus more on the changes of functions and activities, but less on the pools.     

Structure and activities of ectomycorrhizal and microbial communities in the rhizosphere of Fagus sylvatica under ozone and pathogen stress in a lysimeter study

The aim was to study the influence of abiotic (elevated ozone) or biotic stress (Phytophthora citricola) or their combination on soil biological components and processes in the rhizosphere of young beech trees. Ectomycorrhizal and overall microbial community composition was studied at two soil depths in a lysimeter experiment with 7 year old trees of Fagus sylvatica. As a functional parameter, potential enzyme activities were measured in mycorrhizosphere soil and on excised mycorrhizal tips. The degree of mycorrhization, structure and potential enzymatic activities of mycorrhizal communities were only slightly influenced by treatments. Soil enzyme activities were depressed under elevated ozone and stimulated by P. citricola under ambient but not under elevated ozone. Overall microbial community composition (PLFA) and ectomycorrhizal diversity changed with depth. PLFA analyses not only suggested a reaction of the microbial community to elevated ozone but also indicated an increase in plant stress related components. No influence of the biotic stress on ectomycorrhizal or overall microbial community structure was detected. Changes in the mycorrhizosphere community structure and function due to ozone may be explained by the quality of plant derived carbon.     

Quantitative isolation of microbial DNA from the different types of soils of natural and agricultural ecosystems

A novel procedure was developed for direct quantitative isolation of microbial DNA from soil. This technique was used to evaluate microbial DNA pools in soils of contrasting types (chernozems and brown forest soils) under different anthropogenic loads. A strong correlation was found between microbial biomass and DNA contents in soils of different types (R2 = 0.799). The ratio of soil CO2 emission rate to the amount of extractable DNA in the soil was shown to reflect physiological state of the soil microbial community; this ratio can be used as an ecophysiological parameter similarly to the metabolic quotient qCO2.     

Impact of elevated CO2 on the metabolic diversity of microbial communities in N-limited grass swards

The impact of elevated atmospheric CO2 on qualitative and qua ntitative changes in rhizosphere carbon flow will have important consequences fo r nutrient cycling and storage in soil, through the effect on the activity, biom ass size and composition of soil microbial communities. We hypothesized that mic robial communities from the rhizosphere of Danthonia richardsonii, a n ative C3 Australian grass, growing at ambient and twice ambient CO2 a nd varying rates of low N application (20, 60, 180 kg N ha-1) will be different as a consequence of qualitative and quantitative change in rhizosphere carbon flow. We used the Biolog^TM system to construct sole carbon source utilisation profiles of these communities from the rhizosphere of D. richardsonii. Biolog^TM GN and MT plates, the latter to which more ecologically relevant root exudate carbon sources were added, were used to characterise the communities. Microbial communities from the rhizosphere of D. richardsonii grown for four years at twice ambient CO2 had significantly greater utilisation of all carbon sources except those with a low C:N ratio (neutral and acidic amino acids, amides, N-heterocycles, long chain aliphatic acids) than communities from plants grown at ambient CO2. This indicates a change in microbial community composition suggesting that under elevated CO2 compounds with a higher C:N ratio were exuded. Enumeration of microorganisms, using plate counts, indicated that there was a preferential stimulation of fungal growth at elevated CO2 and confirmed that bacterial metabolic activity (C utilisation rates), not population size (counts), were stimulated by additional C flow at elevated CO2. Nitrogen was an additional rate-limiting factor for microbial growth in soil and had a significant impact on the microbial response to elevated CO2. Microbial populations were higher in the rhizosphere of plants receiving the highest N application, but the communities receiving the lowest N application were most active. These results have important implications for carbon turnover and storage in soils where changes in soil microbial community structure and stimulation of the activity of microorganisms which prefer to grow on rhizodeposits may lead to a decrease in the composition of organic matter and result in an accumulation of soil carbon.     

Enhanced root exudation induces microbial feedbacks to N cycling in a pine forest under long-term CO2 fumigation

The degree to which rising atmospheric CO(2) will be offset by carbon (C) sequestration in forests depends in part on the capacity of trees and soil microbes to make physiological adjustments that can alleviate resource limitation. Here, we show for the first time that mature trees exposed to CO(2) enrichment increase the release of soluble C from roots to soil, and that such increases are coupled to the accelerated turnover of nitrogen (N) pools in the rhizosphere. Over the course of 3 years, we measured in situ rates of root exudation from 420 intact loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) roots. Trees fumigated with elevated CO(2) (200 p.p.m.v. over background) increased exudation rates (μg C cm(-1) root h(-1) ) by 55% during the primary growing season, leading to a 50% annual increase in dissolved organic inputs to fumigated forest soils. These increases in root-derived C were positively correlated with microbial release of extracellular enzymes involved in breakdown of organic N (R(2) = 0.66; P = 0.006) in the rhizosphere, indicating that exudation stimulated microbial activity and accelerated the rate of soil organic matter (SOM) turnover. In support of this conclusion, trees exposed to both elevated CO(2) and N fertilization did not increase exudation rates and had reduced enzyme activities in the rhizosphere. Collectively, our results provide field-based empirical support suggesting that sustained growth responses of forests to elevated CO(2) in low fertility soils are maintained by enhanced rates of microbial activity and N cycling fuelled by inputs of root-derived C. To the extent that increases in exudation also stimulate SOM decomposition, such changes may prevent soil C accumulation in forest ecosystems.     

Elevated temperature shifts soil N cycling from microbial immobilization to enhanced mineralization,nitrification and denitrification across global terrestrial ecosystems

We assessed the response of soil microbial nitrogen (N) cycling and associated functional genes to elevated temperature at the global scale. A meta‐analysis of 1,270 observations from 134 publications indicated that elevated temperature decreased soil microbial biomass N and increased N mineralization rates, both in the presence and absence of plants. These findings infer that elevated temperature drives microbially mediated N cycling processes from dominance by anabolic to catabolic reaction processes. Elevated temperature increased soil nitrification and denitrification rates, leading to an increase in N₂O emissions of up to 227%, whether plants were present or not. Rates of N mineralization, denitrification and N₂O emission demonstrated significant positive relationships with rates of CO₂ emissions under elevated temperatures, suggesting that microbial N cycling processes were associated with enhanced microbial carbon (C) metabolism due to soil warming. The response in the abundance of relevant genes to elevated temperature was not always consistent with changes in N cycling processes. While elevated temperature increased the abundances of the nirS gene with plants and nosZ genes without plants, there was no effect on the abundances of the ammonia‐oxidizing archaea amoA gene, ammonia‐oxidizing bacteria amoA and nirK genes. This study provides the first global‐scale assessment demonstrating that elevated temperature shifts N cycling from microbial immobilization to enhanced mineralization, nitrification and denitrification in terrestrial ecosystems. These findings infer that elevated temperatures have a profound impact on global N cycling processes with implications of a positive feedback to global climate and emphasize the close linkage between soil microbial C and N cycling.     

微生物介导的碳氮循环过程对全球气候变化的响应

土壤是地球表层最为重要的碳库也是温室气体的源或汇。自工业革命以来,对土壤温室气体的容量、收支平衡和通量等已有较多研究和估算,但对关键过程及其源/汇的研究却十分有限。微生物是土壤碳氮转化的主要驱动者, 在生态系统碳氮循环过程中扮演重要的角色,对全球气候变化有着响应的响应、适应及反馈,然而其个体数量,群落结构和多样性如何与气候扰动相互关联、进而怎样影响生态系统过程的问题仍有待进一步探索。从微生物介导的碳氮循环过程入手,重点讨论微生物对气候变化包括温室气体(CO₂,CH₄,N₂O)增加、全球变暖、大气氮沉降等的响应和反馈,并由此提出削减温室气体排放的可能途径和今后发展的方向。     

大气二氧化碳浓度增加对木本植物BVOCs释放的影响

植物挥发性有机化合物(biogenic volatile organic compounds,BVOCs)在近地表臭氧和二次有机气溶胶生成中有重要作用,而大气CO2浓度上升对植物BVOCs释放有显著影响。利用Meta-analysis方法对已发表的数据进行整合分析发现:(1)总体而言,大气CO2浓度增加会导致不同木本植物(常绿与落叶) BVOCs释放降低;(2)就不同木本植物BVOCs释放而言,大气CO2浓度增加主要导致落叶植物BVOCs释放速率降低,而常绿植物则以增加为主;(3)就植物释放BVOCs种类而言,大气CO2浓度增加显著降低异戊二烯的释放速率,对单萜烯释放速率则无显著影响。结果可为阐明陆地生态系统BVOCs释放对全球CO2浓度增加的响应提供依据。     

Seasonal Dynamics of Microbial Community Composition and Function in Oak Canopy and Open Grassland Soils

Soil microbial communities are closely associated with aboveground plant communities, with multiple potential drivers of this relationship. Plants can affect available soil carbon, temperature, and water content, which each have the potential to affect microbial community composition and function. These same variables change seasonally, and thus plant control on microbial community composition may be modulated or overshadowed by annual climatic patterns. We examined microbial community composition, C cycling processes, and environmental data in California annual grassland soils from beneath oak canopies and in open grassland areas to distinguish factors controlling microbial community composition and function seasonally and in association with the two plant overstory communities. Every 3 months for up to 2 years, we monitored microbial community composition using phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) analysis, microbial biomass, respiration rates, microbial enzyme activities, and the activity of microbial groups using isotope labeling of PLFA biomarkers (¹³C-PLFA). Distinct microbial communities were associated with oak canopy soils and open grassland soils and microbial communities displayed seasonal patterns from year to year. The effects of plant species and seasonal climate on microbial community composition were similar in magnitude. In this Mediterranean ecosystem, plant control of microbial community composition was primarily due to effects on soil water content, whereas the changes in microbial community composition seasonally appeared to be due, in large part, to soil temperature. Available soil carbon was not a significant control on microbial community composition. Microbial community composition (PLFA) and ¹³C-PLFA ordination values were strongly related to intra-annual variability in soil enzyme activities and soil respiration, but microbial biomass was not. In this Mediterranean climate, soil microclimate appeared to be the master variable controlling microbial community composition and function.     

Elevated CO2 alters community-level physiological profiles and enzyme activities in alpine grassland.

Plots of an alpine grassland in the Swiss Alps were treated with elevated (680 microl l(-1)) and ambient CO2 (355 microl l(-1)) in open top chambers (OTC). Several plots were also treated with NPK-fertilizer. Community level physiological profiles (CLPPs) of the soil bacteria were examined by Biolog GN microplates and enzyme activities were determined through the release of methylumbelliferyl (MUF) and methylcoumarin (MC) from MUF- or MC-labelled substrates. A canonical discriminant analysis (CDA) followed by multivariate analysis of variance showed a significant effect of elevated CO2 on the CLPPs both under fertilized and unfertilized conditions. Further, the installation of the OTCs caused significant shifts in the CLPPs (chamber effect). Of the four enzyme activities tested, the beta-D-cellobiohydrolase (CELase) and N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase (NAGase) activity were enhanced under elevated CO2. L-Leucin-7-aminopeptidase (APEase) activity decreased, when the plots received fertilizer. Beta-D-glucosidase (GLUase) remained unaffected. The results suggest effects of elevated CO2 on specific microbial activities even under low mineral nutrient conditions and when bulk parameters like microbial biomass or respiration, which have been investigated on the same site, remain unaffected. The observed medium-term changes point at possible long-term consequences for the ecosystem that may not be specified yet.     

黄土丘陵区小流域侵蚀环境对土壤微生物量及酶活性的影响

土壤侵蚀环境直接影响土壤的特性,对土壤微生物的形成和稳定具有重要的影响。土壤微生物量推动着土壤的物质循环和能量流动,对土壤中各种环境的变化有很强的敏感性。土壤酶活性能表示土壤微生物功能的多样性,与土壤微生物量有着紧密的联系。为了探究不同侵蚀环境对土壤微生物量和酶活性的影响,以黄土丘陵区陈家坬小流域为研究区,选择5种不同侵蚀环境下0—10cm和10—20cm土层的土壤为研究对象,对土壤微生物量及其土壤蔗糖酶、脲酶和碱性磷酸酶活性进行了研究。结果表明:(1)土壤微生物量碳、氮、磷含量均表现为0—10cm大于10—20cm土层;土壤微生物量碳和磷在阴沟坡最大,在阳梁峁坡和峁顶较小,且阴沟坡和峁顶差异显著;土壤微生物量氮在阳沟坡最大,阴阳梁峁坡最小,差异性显著(P0.01)。(2)土壤脲酶、蔗糖酶和碱性磷酸酶活性均表现为0—10cm大于10—20cm土层,且在不同侵蚀环境下均表现为阴梁峁坡最大,阳梁峁坡最小。(3)相关性分析表明,土壤微生物量碳、氮、磷与土壤脲酶、蔗糖酶、碱性磷酸酶活性之间均有极显著的正相关。     

小叶锦鸡儿根际微生物群落功能多样性对环境变化的响应

利用Biolog技术对内蒙古草原灌丛优势种小叶锦鸡儿(Caragana microphylla)根际土壤微生物群落功能多样性特征及其对大气CO2浓度、土壤氮水平和土壤水分3个环境因子变化的响应进行了研究。结果表明:(1)小叶锦鸡儿根际土壤微生物利用碳源总量在整个培养过程中呈逐渐增加的趋势。其利用比例较高的碳源类型为聚合物、糖类和氨基酸。(2)主成分分析表明,8个处理组的微生物群落功能多样性差异显著,其中与主成分1显著相关的碳源有14种,分别属于聚合物、糖类、氨基酸和羧酸。(3)加倍CO2浓度极显著提高平均颜色变化率(AWCD)以及丰富度指数和Shannon均匀度。(4)氮素添加使AWCD、丰富度指数和Shannon均匀度均极显著降低,其抑制效应在加倍CO2浓度时有所缓解。(5)加水处理对上述指标均有一定的促进作用,但是差异未达显著水平。(6)加倍CO2浓度和氮素添加联合处理下,小叶锦鸡儿根际微生物活性高于对照处理,说明加倍CO2浓度对微生物活性的促进效应强于添加氮素的抑制效应。(7)CO2和氮素对上述指标有交互作用。综上所述,小叶锦鸡儿根际土壤微生物群落的功能在很大程度上受到外界环境因子的影响,对环境变化较敏感的碳源类型为聚合物、糖类、氨基酸和羧酸,与利用比例较高的碳源类型基本一致。     

Elevated carbon dioxide alters the structure of soil microbial communities

Pyrosequencing analysis of 16S rRNA genes was used to examine impacts of elevated CO(2) (eCO(2)) on soil microbial communities from 12 replicates each from ambient CO(2) (aCO(2)) and eCO(2) settings. The results suggest that the soil microbial community composition and structure significantly altered under conditions of eCO(2), which was closely associated with soil and plant properties.     

水分条件变化对土壤微生物的影响及其响应机制研究进展

土壤微生物在维持陆地生态系统服务中扮演着重要的角色.土壤水分条件是影响微生物活性与生态系统功能的重要因素之一,全球气候变化所引起的极端干旱与降雨必将加速土壤水分的剧烈变化.由于不同土壤微生物对干旱胁迫的耐受性不同及其对水分变化的响应差异,使得土壤水分条件变化直接改变了土壤微生物活性与群落结构,进而对微生物介导的关键过程与土壤生态系统功能造成深刻的影响.因此,全面深入地理解水分条件变化下土壤微生物群落的结构变化特征与响应机制具有重要意义.本文在总结土壤水分条件变化对土壤微生物活性(土壤呼吸与酶活性)和微生物群落结构的影响的基础上,进一步阐述了土壤微生物对干旱胁迫与水分条件变化的响应机制和生态学策略,包括: 1)积累胞内溶质、产生胞外聚合物、进入休眠状态等应对干旱胁迫的细胞生理策略;2)微生物之间、微生物与植物之间相关抗逆性基因的转移及土壤微生物群落的功能冗余等应对水分变化的微生物机制.研究水分条件变化下土壤微生物群落结构及生态系统功能之间的内在联系,不仅有助于进一步剖析微生物介导的土壤生态过程,而且能够为今后陆地生态系统对气候变化的响应研究和模型预测提供理论依据.     

A Coexisting Fungal-Bacterial Community Stabilizes Soil Decomposition Activity in a Microcosm Experiment

How diversity influences the stability of a community function is a major question in ecology. However, only limited empirical investigations of the diversity–stability relationship in soil microbial communities have been undertaken, despite the fundamental role of microbial communities in driving carbon and nutrient cycling in terrestrial ecosystems. In this study, we conducted a microcosm experiment to investigate the relationship between microbial diversity and stability of soil decomposition activities against changes in decomposition substrate quality by manipulating microbial community using selective biocides. We found that soil respiration rates and degradation enzyme activities by a coexisting fungal and bacterial community (a taxonomically diverse community) are more stable against changes in substrate quality (plant leaf materials) than those of a fungi-dominated or a bacteria-dominated community (less diverse community). Flexible changes in the microbial community composition and/or physiological state in the coexisting community against changes in substrate quality, as inferred by the soil lipid profile, may be the mechanism underlying this positive diversity–stability relationship. Our experiment demonstrated that the previously found positive diversity–stability relationship could also be valid in the soil microbial community. Our results also imply that the functional/taxonomic diversity and community ecology of soil microbes should be incorporated into the context of climate–ecosystem feedbacks. Changes in substrate quality, which could be induced by climate change, have impacts on decomposition process and carbon dioxide emission from soils, but such impacts may be attenuated by the functional diversity of soil microbial communities.     

Assessment of soil nitrogen and phosphorous availability under elevated CO2 and N-fertilization in a short rotation poplar plantation

Photosynthetic stimulation by elevated [CO₂] is largely regulated by nitrogen and phosphorus availability in the soil. During a 6 year Free Air CO₂ Enrichment (FACE) experiment with poplar trees in two short rotations, inorganic forms of soil nitrogen, extractable phosphorus, microbial and total nitrogen were assessed. Moreover, in situ and potential nitrogen mineralization, as well as enzymatic activities, were determined as measures of nutrient cycling. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of elevated [CO₂] and fertilization on: (1) N mineralization and immobilization processes; (2) soil nutrient availability; and (3) soil enzyme activity, as an indication of microbial and plant nutrient acquisition activity. Independent of any treatment, total soil N increased by 23% in the plantation after 6 years due to afforestation. Nitrification was the main process influencing inorganic N availability in soil, while ammonification being null or even negative. Ammonium was mostly affected by microbial immobilization and positively related to total N and microbial biomass N. Elevated [CO₂] negatively influenced nitrification under unfertilised treatment by 44% and consequently nitrate availability by 30% on average. Microbial N immobilization was stimulated by [CO₂] enrichment and probably enhanced the transformation of large amounts of N into organic forms less accessible to plants. The significant enhancement of enzyme activities under elevated [CO₂] reflected an increase in nutrient acquisition activity in the soil, as well as an increase of fungal population. Nitrogen fertilization did not influence N availability and cycling, but acted as a negative feed-back on phosphorus availability under elevated CO₂.     

过量施肥对设施菜田土壤菌群结构及N2O产生的影响

【背景】N_2O是一种很强的温室气体,其温室效应强度大约是CO_2的265倍。土壤氮肥施加量是影响N_2O排放的重要因素,而厌氧条件下微生物反硝化则是N_2O产生的重要途径。【目的】研究过量施肥条件下蔬菜大棚土壤菌群结构变化及其对N_2O气体排放的影响。【方法】利用自动化培养与实时气体检测系统(Robot)监测土壤厌氧培养过程中N_2O和N_2排放通量,比较过量施肥和减氮施肥模式下土壤N_2O排放模式的差异。通过Illumina二代测序平台对这2种不同施肥处理的土壤微生物群落进行高通量测序,研究不同施肥量对土壤菌群组成的影响。【结果】过量施肥土壤中硝酸盐的含量大约是减氮施肥土壤的2倍,通过添加硝酸盐使2种土壤的硝酸盐含量均为60 mg/kg或为200 mg/kg时,过量施肥土壤在厌氧培养前期N_2O气体的产生量及产生速度都明显高于减氮施肥土壤。另外,过量施肥导致土壤菌群结构发生显著改变,并且降低了土壤微生物的多样性。相对于减氮施肥,过量施肥方式富集了Rhodanobacter属的微生物。PICRUSt预测结果显示,传统施肥没有显著改变反硝化功能基因相对丰度。【结论】长期过量氮肥施用显著增加了土壤N_2O的排放,可能原因是施肥改变了包括氮转化相关微生物在内的土壤菌群组成,从而影响了土壤N_2O气体的形成与还原过程。     

The response of soil microorganisms and roots to elevated CO2 and temperature in a terrestrial model ecosystem

We investigate the response of soil microorganisms to atmospheric CO2 and temperature change within model terrestrial ecosystems in the Ecotron. The model communities consisted of four plant species (Cardamine hirsuta, Poa annua, Senecio vulgaris, Spergula arvensis), four herbivorous insect species (two aphids, a leaf-miner, and a whitefly) and their parasitoids, snails, earthworms, woodlice, soil-dwelling Collembola (springtails), nematodes and soil microorganisms (bacteria, fungi, mycorrhizae and Protista). In two successive experiments, the effects of elevated temperature (ambient plus 2 °C) at both ambient and elevated CO2 conditions (ambient plus 200 ppm) were investigated. A 40:60 sand:Surrey loam mixture with relatively low nutrient levels was used. Each experiment ran for 9 months and soil microbial biomass (Cmic and Nmic), soil microbial community (fungal and bacterial phospholipid fatty acids), basal respiration, and enzymes involved in the carbon cycling (xylanase, trehalase) were measured at depths of 0–2, 0–10 and 10–20 cm. In addition, root biomass and tissue C:N ratio were determined to provide information on the amount and quality of substrates for microbial growth.Elevated temperature under both ambient and elevated CO2 did not show consistent treatment effects. Elevation of air temperature at ambient CO2 induced an increase in Cmic of the 0–10 cm layer, while at elevated CO2 total phospholipid fatty acids (PLFA) increased after the third generation. The metabolic quotient qCO2 decreased at elevated temperature in the ambient CO2 run. Xylanase and trehalase showed no changes in both runs. Root biomass and C:N ratio were not influenced by elevated temperature in ambient CO2. In elevated CO2, however, elevated temperature reduced root biomass in the 0–10 cm and 30–40 cm layers and increased N content of roots in the deeper layers. The different response of root biomass and C:N ratio to elevated temperature may be caused by differences in the dynamics of root decomposition and/or in allocation patterns to coarse or fine roots (i.e. storage vs. resource capture functions). Overall, our data suggests that in soils of low nutrient availability, the effects of climate change on the soil microbial community and processes are likely to be minimal and largely unpredicatable.