Stoichiometry of soil enzyme activity at global scale

Authors

Robert L. Sinsabaugh, University of New Mexico,
Christian L. Lauber, University of New Mexico,
Michael N. Weintraub, University of Toledo
Bony Ahmed, Arizona State University
Steven D. Allison, University of California, Irvine
Chelsea Crenshaw, University of New Mexico
Alexandra R. Contosta, University of New Hampshire, DurhamFollow
Daniela Cusack, University of California, Berkeley
Serita D. Frey, University of New Hampshire, DurhamFollow
Marcy E. Gallo, University of New Mexico
Tracy B. Gartner, Carthage College
Sarah E. Hobbie, University of Minnesota
Keri Holland, University of California, Santa Barbara
Bonnie L. Keeler, University of Minnesota
Jennifer S. Powers, University of Minnesota
Martina Stursova, University of New Mexico
Cristina Takacs-Vesbach, University of New Mexico
Mark P. Waldrop, United States Geological Survey
Matthew D. Wallenstein, Colorado State University
Donald R. Zak, University of Michigan
Lydia H. Zeglin, University of New Mexico

Abstract

Extracellular enzymes are the proximate agents of organic matter decomposition and measures of these activities can be used as indicators of microbial nutrient demand. We conducted a global-scale meta-analysis of the seven-most widely measured soil enzyme activities, using data from 40 ecosystems. The activities of β-1,4-glucosidase, cellobiohydrolase, β-1,4-N-acetylglucosaminidase and phosphatase g−1 soil increased with organic matter concentration; leucine aminopeptidase, phenol oxidase and peroxidase activities showed no relationship. All activities were significantly related to soil pH. Specific activities, i.e. activity g−1 soil organic matter, also varied in relation to soil pH for all enzymes. Relationships with mean annual temperature (MAT) and precipitation (MAP) were generally weak. For hydrolases, ratios of specific C, N and P acquisition activities converged on 1 : 1 : 1 but across ecosystems, the ratio of C : P acquisition was inversely related to MAP and MAT while the ratio of C : N acquisition increased with MAP. Oxidative activities were more variable than hydrolytic activities and increased with soil pH. Our analyses indicate that the enzymatic potential for hydrolyzing the labile components of soil organic matter is tied to substrate availability, soil pH and the stoichiometry of microbial nutrient demand. The enzymatic potential for oxidizing the recalcitrant fractions of soil organic material, which is a proximate control on soil organic matter accumulation, is most strongly related to soil pH. These trends provide insight into the biogeochemical processes that create global patterns in ecological stoichiometry and organic matter storage.

Department

Soil Biogeochemistry and Microbial Ecology

Publication Date

10-2-2008

Journal Title

Ecology Letters

Publisher

Wiley

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

https://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1461-0248.2008.01245.x

Document Type

Article

Recommended Citation

Sinsabaugh, R.L., Lauber, C.L., Weintraub, M.N., Ahmed, B., Allison, S.D., Crenshaw, C., Contosta, A.R., Cusack, D., Frey, S., Gallo, M.E., Gartner, T.B., Hobbie, S.E., Holland, K., Keeler, B.L., Powers, J.S., Stursova, M., Takacs-Vesbach, C., Waldrop, M.P., Wallenstein, M.D., Zak, D.R. and Zeglin, L.H. (2008), Stoichiometry of soil enzyme activity at global scale. Ecology Letters, 11: 1252-1264. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1461-0248.2008.01245.x

Rights

© 2008 Blackwell Publishing Ltd/CNRS