Global warming is likely to cause a decline in the number of species of microbes that live in tropical soils - and that could threaten the biodiversity of rainforests and increase carbon emissions.
Global warming is likely to cause a decline in the number of species of microbes that live in tropical soils - and that could threaten the biodiversity of rainforests and increase carbon emissions.
In a new study, scientists - led by Dr Andrew Nottingham from the School of Geography at Leeds – say evidence indicates that tropical soils are “highly sensitive” to an increase in temperature.
Microorganisms, which include bacteria and fungi, play a key role in the health of tropical forest ecosystems. They breakdown dead organic matter, either using the carbon it contains and transforming it or release it into the environment as CO2.
About a third of the carbon stored in soils is held in tropical soils - and they support around two-thirds of the world’s plant biomass.
Read more at: University of Leeds
Photo Credit: hasogr via Pixabay
