Positive Feedback on Climate Warming by Stream Microbial Decomposers Indicated by a Global Space-For-Time Substitution Study

Javier Pérez; Luz Boyero; Richard G. Pearson; Mark O. Gessner; Alan Tonin; Naiara López-Rojo; Juan Rubio-Ríos; Francisco Correa-Araneda; Alberto Alonso; Aydeé Cornejo; Ricardo J. Albariño; Sankarappan Anbalagan; Leon A. Barmuta; Andrew J. Boulton; Francis J. Burdon; Adriano Caliman; Marcos Callisto; Ian C. Campbell; Bradley J. Cardinale; Luciana S. Carneiro; J. Jesús Casas; Ana M. Chará-Serna; Eric Chauvet; Checo Colón-Gaud; Aaron M. Davis; Elvira de Eyto; Monika Degebrodt; María E. Díaz; Michael M. Douglas; Andrea C. Encalada; Ricardo Figueroa; Alexander S. Flecker; Tadeusz Fleituch; André Frainer; Erica A. García; Gabriela García; Pavel E. García; Paul S. Giller; Jesús E. Gómez; Jose F. Gonçalves; Manuel A.S. Graça; Robert O. Hall; Neusa Hamada; Luiz U. Hepp; Cang Hui; Daichi Imazawa; Tomoya Iwata; Edson S.A. Junior; Andrea Landeira-Dabarca; María Leal; Kaisa Lehosmaa; Charles M. M'Erimba; Richard Marchant; Renato T. Martins; Frank O. Masese; Megan Maul; Brendan G. McKie; Adriana O. Medeiros; Jen A. Middleton; Timo Muotka; Junjiro N. Negishi; Alonso Ramírez; Renan S. Rezende; John S. Richardson; José Rincón; Claudia Serrano; Angela R. Shaffer; Fran Sheldon; Christopher M. Swan; Nathalie S.D. Tenkiano; Scott D. Tiegs; Janine R. Tolod; Michael Vernasky; Elizabeth W. Wanderi; Anne Watson; Catherine M. Yule

doi:10.1111/gcb.70171

Positive Feedback on Climate Warming by Stream Microbial Decomposers Indicated by a Global Space-For-Time Substitution Study

Javier Pérez, Luz Boyero, Richard G. Pearson, Mark O. Gessner, Alan Tonin, Naiara López-Rojo, Juan Rubio-Ríos, Francisco Correa-Araneda, Alberto Alonso, Aydeé Cornejo, Ricardo J. Albariño, Sankarappan Anbalagan, Leon A. Barmuta, Andrew J. Boulton, Francis J. Burdon, Adriano Caliman, Marcos Callisto, Ian C. Campbell, Bradley J. Cardinale, Luciana S. CarneiroJ. Jesús Casas, Ana M. Chará-Serna, Eric Chauvet, Checo Colón-Gaud, Aaron M. Davis, Elvira de Eyto, Monika Degebrodt, María E. Díaz, Michael M. Douglas, Andrea C. Encalada, Ricardo Figueroa, Alexander S. Flecker, Tadeusz Fleituch, André Frainer, Erica A. García, Gabriela García, Pavel E. García, Paul S. Giller, Jesús E. Gómez, Jose F. Gonçalves, Manuel A.S. Graça, Robert O. Hall, Neusa Hamada, Luiz U. Hepp, Cang Hui, Daichi Imazawa, Tomoya Iwata, Edson S.A. Junior, Andrea Landeira-Dabarca, María Leal, Kaisa Lehosmaa, Charles M. M'Erimba, Richard Marchant, Renato T. Martins, Frank O. Masese, Megan Maul, Brendan G. McKie, Adriana O. Medeiros, Jen A. Middleton, Timo Muotka, Junjiro N. Negishi, Alonso Ramírez, Renan S. Rezende, John S. Richardson, José Rincón, Claudia Serrano, Angela R. Shaffer, Fran Sheldon, Christopher M. Swan, Nathalie S.D. Tenkiano, Scott D. Tiegs, Janine R. Tolod, Michael Vernasky, Elizabeth W. Wanderi, Anne Watson, Catherine M. Yule

Biology

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

Decomposition of plant litter is a key ecological process in streams, whose contribution to the global carbon cycle is large relative to their extent on Earth. We examined the mechanisms underlying the temperature sensitivity (TS) of instream decomposition and forecast effects of climate warming on this process. Comparing data from 41 globally distributed sites, we assessed the TS of microbial and total decomposition using litter of nine plant species combined in six mixtures. Microbial decomposition conformed to the metabolic theory of ecology and its TS was consistently higher than that of total decomposition, which was higher than found previously. Litter quality influenced the difference between microbial and total decomposition, with total decomposition of more recalcitrant litter being more sensitive to temperature. Our projections suggest that (i) warming will enhance the microbial contribution to decomposition, increasing CO2 outgassing and intensifying the warming trend, especially in colder regions; and (ii) riparian species composition will have a major influence on this process.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	e70171
Journal	Global Change Biology
Volume	31
Issue number	4
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1111/gcb.70171
State	Published - Apr 1 2025

Scopus Subject Areas

Global and Planetary Change
Environmental Chemistry
Ecology
General Environmental Science

Keywords

carbon cycle
detritivores
global change
globally distributed study
litter quality
metabolic theory of ecology
microorganisms
plant litter decomposition
stream ecosystem functioning
temperature sensitivity

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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10.1111/gcb.70171

Cite this

Pérez, J., Boyero, L., Pearson, R. G., Gessner, M. O., Tonin, A., López-Rojo, N., Rubio-Ríos, J., Correa-Araneda, F., Alonso, A., Cornejo, A., Albariño, R. J., Anbalagan, S., Barmuta, L. A., Boulton, A. J., Burdon, F. J., Caliman, A., Callisto, M., Campbell, I. C., Cardinale, B. J., ... Yule, C. M. (2025). Positive Feedback on Climate Warming by Stream Microbial Decomposers Indicated by a Global Space-For-Time Substitution Study. Global Change Biology, 31(4), e70171. https://doi.org/10.1111/gcb.70171

@article{4fbad71ad66b46e9a583a24302b6b50e,

title = "Positive Feedback on Climate Warming by Stream Microbial Decomposers Indicated by a Global Space-For-Time Substitution Study",

abstract = "Decomposition of plant litter is a key ecological process in streams, whose contribution to the global carbon cycle is large relative to their extent on Earth. We examined the mechanisms underlying the temperature sensitivity (TS) of instream decomposition and forecast effects of climate warming on this process. Comparing data from 41 globally distributed sites, we assessed the TS of microbial and total decomposition using litter of nine plant species combined in six mixtures. Microbial decomposition conformed to the metabolic theory of ecology and its TS was consistently higher than that of total decomposition, which was higher than found previously. Litter quality influenced the difference between microbial and total decomposition, with total decomposition of more recalcitrant litter being more sensitive to temperature. Our projections suggest that (i) warming will enhance the microbial contribution to decomposition, increasing CO2 outgassing and intensifying the warming trend, especially in colder regions; and (ii) riparian species composition will have a major influence on this process.",

keywords = "carbon cycle, detritivores, global change, globally distributed study, litter quality, metabolic theory of ecology, microorganisms, plant litter decomposition, stream ecosystem functioning, temperature sensitivity",

author = "Javier P{\'e}rez and Luz Boyero and Pearson, {Richard G.} and Gessner, {Mark O.} and Alan Tonin and Naiara L{\'o}pez-Rojo and Juan Rubio-R{\'i}os and Francisco Correa-Araneda and Alberto Alonso and Ayde{\'e} Cornejo and Albari{\~n}o, {Ricardo J.} and Sankarappan Anbalagan and Barmuta, {Leon A.} and Boulton, {Andrew J.} and Burdon, {Francis J.} and Adriano Caliman and Marcos Callisto and Campbell, {Ian C.} and Cardinale, {Bradley J.} and Carneiro, {Luciana S.} and Casas, {J. Jes{\'u}s} and Char{\'a}-Serna, {Ana M.} and Eric Chauvet and Checo Col{\'o}n-Gaud and Davis, {Aaron M.} and {de Eyto}, Elvira and Monika Degebrodt and D{\'i}az, {Mar{\'i}a E.} and Douglas, {Michael M.} and Encalada, {Andrea C.} and Ricardo Figueroa and Flecker, {Alexander S.} and Tadeusz Fleituch and Andr{\'e} Frainer and Garc{\'i}a, {Erica A.} and Gabriela Garc{\'i}a and Garc{\'i}a, {Pavel E.} and Giller, {Paul S.} and G{\'o}mez, {Jes{\'u}s E.} and Gon{\c c}alves, {Jose F.} and Gra{\c c}a, {Manuel A.S.} and Hall, {Robert O.} and Neusa Hamada and Hepp, {Luiz U.} and Cang Hui and Daichi Imazawa and Tomoya Iwata and Junior, {Edson S.A.} and Andrea Landeira-Dabarca and Mar{\'i}a Leal and Kaisa Lehosmaa and M'Erimba, {Charles M.} and Richard Marchant and Martins, {Renato T.} and Masese, {Frank O.} and Megan Maul and McKie, {Brendan G.} and Medeiros, {Adriana O.} and Middleton, {Jen A.} and Timo Muotka and Negishi, {Junjiro N.} and Alonso Ram{\'i}rez and Rezende, {Renan S.} and Richardson, {John S.} and Jos{\'e} Rinc{\'o}n and Claudia Serrano and Shaffer, {Angela R.} and Fran Sheldon and Swan, {Christopher M.} and Tenkiano, {Nathalie S.D.} and Tiegs, {Scott D.} and Tolod, {Janine R.} and Michael Vernasky and Wanderi, {Elizabeth W.} and Anne Watson and Yule, {Catherine M.}",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2025 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.",

year = "2025",

month = apr,

day = "1",

doi = "10.1111/gcb.70171",

language = "English",

volume = "31",

pages = "e70171",

journal = "Global Change Biology",

issn = "1354-1013",

publisher = "Wiley-Blackwell Publishing Ltd",

number = "4",

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Pérez, J, Boyero, L, Pearson, RG, Gessner, MO, Tonin, A, López-Rojo, N, Rubio-Ríos, J, Correa-Araneda, F, Alonso, A, Cornejo, A, Albariño, RJ, Anbalagan, S, Barmuta, LA, Boulton, AJ, Burdon, FJ, Caliman, A, Callisto, M, Campbell, IC, Cardinale, BJ, Carneiro, LS, Casas, JJ, Chará-Serna, AM, Chauvet, E, Colón-Gaud, C, Davis, AM, de Eyto, E, Degebrodt, M, Díaz, ME, Douglas, MM, Encalada, AC, Figueroa, R, Flecker, AS, Fleituch, T, Frainer, A, García, EA, García, G, García, PE, Giller, PS, Gómez, JE, Gonçalves, JF, Graça, MAS, Hall, RO, Hamada, N, Hepp, LU, Hui, C, Imazawa, D, Iwata, T, Junior, ESA, Landeira-Dabarca, A, Leal, M, Lehosmaa, K, M'Erimba, CM, Marchant, R, Martins, RT, Masese, FO, Maul, M, McKie, BG, Medeiros, AO, Middleton, JA, Muotka, T, Negishi, JN, Ramírez, A, Rezende, RS, Richardson, JS, Rincón, J, Serrano, C, Shaffer, AR, Sheldon, F, Swan, CM, Tenkiano, NSD, Tiegs, SD, Tolod, JR, Vernasky, M, Wanderi, EW, Watson, A & Yule, CM 2025, 'Positive Feedback on Climate Warming by Stream Microbial Decomposers Indicated by a Global Space-For-Time Substitution Study', Global Change Biology, vol. 31, no. 4, pp. e70171. https://doi.org/10.1111/gcb.70171

TY - JOUR

T1 - Positive Feedback on Climate Warming by Stream Microbial Decomposers Indicated by a Global Space-For-Time Substitution Study

AU - Pérez, Javier

AU - Boyero, Luz

AU - Pearson, Richard G.

AU - Gessner, Mark O.

AU - Tonin, Alan

AU - López-Rojo, Naiara

AU - Rubio-Ríos, Juan

AU - Correa-Araneda, Francisco

AU - Alonso, Alberto

AU - Cornejo, Aydeé

AU - Albariño, Ricardo J.

AU - Anbalagan, Sankarappan

AU - Barmuta, Leon A.

AU - Boulton, Andrew J.

AU - Burdon, Francis J.

AU - Caliman, Adriano

AU - Callisto, Marcos

AU - Campbell, Ian C.

AU - Cardinale, Bradley J.

AU - Carneiro, Luciana S.

AU - Casas, J. Jesús

AU - Chará-Serna, Ana M.

AU - Chauvet, Eric

AU - Colón-Gaud, Checo

AU - Davis, Aaron M.

AU - de Eyto, Elvira

AU - Degebrodt, Monika

AU - Díaz, María E.

AU - Douglas, Michael M.

AU - Encalada, Andrea C.

AU - Figueroa, Ricardo

AU - Flecker, Alexander S.

AU - Fleituch, Tadeusz

AU - Frainer, André

AU - García, Erica A.

AU - García, Gabriela

AU - García, Pavel E.

AU - Giller, Paul S.

AU - Gómez, Jesús E.

AU - Gonçalves, Jose F.

AU - Graça, Manuel A.S.

AU - Hall, Robert O.

AU - Hamada, Neusa

AU - Hepp, Luiz U.

AU - Hui, Cang

AU - Imazawa, Daichi

AU - Iwata, Tomoya

AU - Junior, Edson S.A.

AU - Landeira-Dabarca, Andrea

AU - Leal, María

AU - Lehosmaa, Kaisa

AU - M'Erimba, Charles M.

AU - Marchant, Richard

AU - Martins, Renato T.

AU - Masese, Frank O.

AU - Maul, Megan

AU - McKie, Brendan G.

AU - Medeiros, Adriana O.

AU - Middleton, Jen A.

AU - Muotka, Timo

AU - Negishi, Junjiro N.

AU - Ramírez, Alonso

AU - Rezende, Renan S.

AU - Richardson, John S.

AU - Rincón, José

AU - Serrano, Claudia

AU - Shaffer, Angela R.

AU - Sheldon, Fran

AU - Swan, Christopher M.

AU - Tenkiano, Nathalie S.D.

AU - Tiegs, Scott D.

AU - Tolod, Janine R.

AU - Vernasky, Michael

AU - Wanderi, Elizabeth W.

AU - Watson, Anne

AU - Yule, Catherine M.

PY - 2025/4/1

Y1 - 2025/4/1

N2 - Decomposition of plant litter is a key ecological process in streams, whose contribution to the global carbon cycle is large relative to their extent on Earth. We examined the mechanisms underlying the temperature sensitivity (TS) of instream decomposition and forecast effects of climate warming on this process. Comparing data from 41 globally distributed sites, we assessed the TS of microbial and total decomposition using litter of nine plant species combined in six mixtures. Microbial decomposition conformed to the metabolic theory of ecology and its TS was consistently higher than that of total decomposition, which was higher than found previously. Litter quality influenced the difference between microbial and total decomposition, with total decomposition of more recalcitrant litter being more sensitive to temperature. Our projections suggest that (i) warming will enhance the microbial contribution to decomposition, increasing CO2 outgassing and intensifying the warming trend, especially in colder regions; and (ii) riparian species composition will have a major influence on this process.

AB - Decomposition of plant litter is a key ecological process in streams, whose contribution to the global carbon cycle is large relative to their extent on Earth. We examined the mechanisms underlying the temperature sensitivity (TS) of instream decomposition and forecast effects of climate warming on this process. Comparing data from 41 globally distributed sites, we assessed the TS of microbial and total decomposition using litter of nine plant species combined in six mixtures. Microbial decomposition conformed to the metabolic theory of ecology and its TS was consistently higher than that of total decomposition, which was higher than found previously. Litter quality influenced the difference between microbial and total decomposition, with total decomposition of more recalcitrant litter being more sensitive to temperature. Our projections suggest that (i) warming will enhance the microbial contribution to decomposition, increasing CO2 outgassing and intensifying the warming trend, especially in colder regions; and (ii) riparian species composition will have a major influence on this process.

KW - carbon cycle

KW - detritivores

KW - global change

KW - globally distributed study

KW - litter quality

KW - metabolic theory of ecology

KW - microorganisms

KW - plant litter decomposition

KW - stream ecosystem functioning

KW - temperature sensitivity

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=105003175603&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1111/gcb.70171

DO - 10.1111/gcb.70171

M3 - Article

C2 - 40186595

AN - SCOPUS:105003175603

SN - 1354-1013

VL - 31

SP - e70171

JO - Global Change Biology

JF - Global Change Biology

IS - 4

ER -

Positive Feedback on Climate Warming by Stream Microbial Decomposers Indicated by a Global Space-For-Time Substitution Study

Abstract

Scopus Subject Areas

Keywords

UN SDGs

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