Towards a microbial process-based understanding of the resilience of peatland ecosystem service provisioning – A research agenda

Journal article

Ritson, J.P., Elliott, D., Alderson, D.M., Robinson, C.H, Burkitt, A.E., Heinemeyer, A., Stimson, A.G., Gallego-Sala, A., Harris, A., Quillet, A., Malik, A.A. and Cole, B. 2021. Towards a microbial process-based understanding of the resilience of peatland ecosystem service provisioning – A research agenda. Science of The Total Environment. 759, pp. 1-9. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.143467
AuthorsRitson, J.P., Elliott, D., Alderson, D.M., Robinson, C.H, Burkitt, A.E., Heinemeyer, A., Stimson, A.G., Gallego-Sala, A., Harris, A., Quillet, A., Malik, A.A. and Cole, B.
Abstract

Peatlands are wetland ecosystems with great significance as natural habitats and as major global carbon stores. They have been subject to widespread exploitation and degradation with resulting losses in characteristic biota and ecosystem functions such as climate regulation. More recently, large-scale programmes have been established to restore peatland ecosystems and the various services they provide to society. Despite significant progress in peatland science and restoration practice, we lack a process-based understanding of how soil microbiota influence peatland functioning and mediate the resilience and recovery of ecosystem services, to perturbations associated with land use and climate change.
We argue that there is a need to: in the short-term, characterise peatland microbial communities across a range of spatial and temporal scales and develop an improved understanding of the links between peatland habitat, ecological functions and microbial processes; in the medium term, define what a successfully restored ‘target’ peatland microbiome looks like for key carbon cycle related ecosystem services and develop microbial-based monitoring tools for assessing restoration needs; and in the longer term, to use this knowledge to influence restoration practices and assess progress on the trajectory towards ‘intact’ peatland status.
Rapid advances in genetic characterisation of the structure and functions of microbial communities offer the potential for transformative progress in these areas, but the scale and speed of methodological and conceptual advances in studying ecosystem functions is a challenge for peatland scientists. Advances in this area require multidisciplinary collaborations between peatland scientists, data scientists and microbiologists and ultimately, collaboration with the modelling community. Developing a process-based understanding of the resilience and recovery of peatlands to perturbations, such as climate extremes, fires, and drainage, will be key to meeting climate targets and delivering ecosystem services cost effectively.

KeywordsPeat; Resilience; Microbiology; Carbon cycling; Peatland restoration and management
Year2021
JournalScience of The Total Environment
Journal citation759, pp. 1-9
PublisherElsevier
ISSN0048-9697
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.143467
Web address (URL)https://eprints.soton.ac.uk/445426/
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.143467
Output statusPublished
Publication dates
Online10 Nov 2020
Publication process dates
Accepted24 Oct 2020
Deposited24 Feb 2023
Permalink -

https://repository.derby.ac.uk/item/9x582/towards-a-microbial-process-based-understanding-of-the-resilience-of-peatland-ecosystem-service-provisioning-a-research-agenda

Log in to edit
  • 27
    total views
  • 0
    total downloads
  • 1
    views this month
  • 0
    downloads this month

Export as

Related outputs

Effects of burning on vegetation, soil physicochemistry and prokaryotic microbial communities in surface and subsurface peat
Shaun M. Allingham, Samantha J. Drake, Andrew Ramsey, Chris D. Field, Felix C. Nwaishi and Elliott, D. 2024. Effects of burning on vegetation, soil physicochemistry and prokaryotic microbial communities in surface and subsurface peat. Science of The Total Environment. 956, pp. 1-17. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.177318
Cast from the Past? Microbial Diversity of a Neolithic Stone Circle
Mercedes Martín-Cereceda, Amaya de Cos-Gandoy, Richard A. J. Williams, David Elliott, Andrea Serrano-Bellón, Blanca Pérez-Uz and Abel Sanchez-Jimenez 2024. Cast from the Past? Microbial Diversity of a Neolithic Stone Circle. Microorganisms. 12 (11). https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms12112338
Editorial: Biological soil crusts: spatio-temporal development and ecological functions of soil surface microbial communities across different scales
Lan, S., Elliott, D., Chamizo, S., Felde, V. J. and Thomas, A.D. 2024. Editorial: Biological soil crusts: spatio-temporal development and ecological functions of soil surface microbial communities across different scales. Frontiers in Microbiology. 15, pp. 1-6. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2024.1447058
Changes in nitrogen functional genes and microbial populations in soil profiles of a peatland under different burning regimes
Allingham, S., Drake, S., Ramsey, A., Field, C.D., Nwaishi, F.C. and Elliott, D. 2024. Changes in nitrogen functional genes and microbial populations in soil profiles of a peatland under different burning regimes. Applied Soil Ecology. 200, pp. 1-13. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apsoil.2024.105426
Spatial organisation of fungi in soil biocrusts of the Kalahari is related to bacterial community structure and may indicate ecological functions of fungi in drylands
Elliott, D., Thomas, A. D., Hoon, S. R. and Sen, R. S. 2024. Spatial organisation of fungi in soil biocrusts of the Kalahari is related to bacterial community structure and may indicate ecological functions of fungi in drylands. Frontiers in Microbiology. 15, pp. 1-11. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2024.1173637
Bio-protection of cementitious materials below ground: The significance of natural soil environments
Hamza, O., Esaker, M., Abogdera, A. and Elliott, D. 2024. Bio-protection of cementitious materials below ground: The significance of natural soil environments. Developments in the Built Environment. 17, pp. 1-12. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dibe.2024.100331
Bio-self-healing of cementitious mortar incubated within clay soil
Esaker, M., Hamza, O. and Elliott, D. 2023. Bio-self-healing of cementitious mortar incubated within clay soil. Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering. 36 (1). https://doi.org/10.1061/JMCEE7.MTENG-15713
Monitoring the bio-self-healing performance of cement mortar incubated within soil and water using electrical resistivity
Esaker, M., Hamza, O. and Elliott, D. 2023. Monitoring the bio-self-healing performance of cement mortar incubated within soil and water using electrical resistivity . Construction and Building Materials. 393, pp. 1-11. https://doi.org//10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2023.132109
Aspects of microbial communities in peatland carbon cycling under changing climate and land use pressures
Clare H. Robinson, Jonathan P. Ritson, Danielle M. Alderson, Ashish A. Malik, Robert I. Griffiths, Andreas Heinemeyer, Angela V. Gallego-Sala, Anne Quillet, Bjorn J.M. Robroek, Chris Evans, Dave M. Chandler, David R. Elliott, Emma L. Shutttleworth, Erik A. Lilleskov, Ezra Kitson, Filipa Cox, Fred Worrall, Gareth D. Clay, Ian Crosher, Jennifer Pratscher, Jon Bird, Jonathan Walker, Lisa R. Belyea, Marc G. Dumont, Nichole G.A. Bell, Rebekka R.E. Artz, Richard D. Bardgett, Roxane Andersen, Simon M. Hutchinson, Susan E. Page, Tim J. Thom, William Burn, Martin G. Evans and Elliott, D. 2023. Aspects of microbial communities in peatland carbon cycling under changing climate and land use pressures. Mires and Peat. 29, pp. 1-36. https://doi.org/10.19189/map.2022.omb.sta.2404
Microbial communities and biogeochemical functioning across peatlands in the Athabasca Oil Sands region of Canada: Implications for reclamation and management
Shaun M Allingham, Felix C Nwaishi, Roxane Andersen, Louis J Lamit and Elliott, D. 2022. Microbial communities and biogeochemical functioning across peatlands in the Athabasca Oil Sands region of Canada: Implications for reclamation and management. Land Degradation & Development. pp. 1-18. https://doi.org/10.1002/ldr.4549
Self-healing of bio-cementitious mortar incubated within neutral and acidic soil
Esaker, Mohamed, Hamza, Omar, Souid, Adam and Elliott, D. 2021. Self-healing of bio-cementitious mortar incubated within neutral and acidic soil. Materials and Structures. 54 (2), pp. 1-16. https://doi.org/10.1617/s11527-021-01690-1
Soil biocrusts affect metabolic response to hydration on dunes in west Queensland, Australia
Thomas, Andrew D., Elliott, D., Hardcastle, David, Strong, Craig L., Bullard, Joanna, Webster, Richard and Lan, Shubin 2021. Soil biocrusts affect metabolic response to hydration on dunes in west Queensland, Australia. Geoderma. 405, pp. 1-10. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geoderma.2021.115464
Methane production and oxidation potentials along a fen‐bog gradient from southern boreal to subarctic peatlands in Finland
Zhang, Hui, Tuittila, Eeva‐Stiina, Korrensalo, Aino, Laine, Anna M., Uljas, Salli, Welti, Nina, Kerttula, Johanna, Maljanen, Marja, Elliott, D., Vesala, Timo and Lohila, Annalea 2021. Methane production and oxidation potentials along a fen‐bog gradient from southern boreal to subarctic peatlands in Finland. Global Change Biology. 27, p. 4449–4464. https://doi.org/10.1111/gcb.15740
Active microbial ecosystem in glacier basal ice fuelled by iron and silicate comminution‐derived hydrogen
Toubes‐Rodrigo, Mario, Potgieter‐Vermaak, Sanja, Sen, Robin, Oddsdóttir, Edda S., Elliott, D. and Cook, Simon 2021. Active microbial ecosystem in glacier basal ice fuelled by iron and silicate comminution‐derived hydrogen. MicrobiologyOpen. 10 (4), pp. 1-13. https://doi.org/10.1002/mbo3.1200
The effect of soil incubation on bio self-healing of cementitious mortar
Hamza, Omar, Esaker, Mohamed, Elliott, D. and Souid, A. 2020. The effect of soil incubation on bio self-healing of cementitious mortar. Materials Today Communications. 24, pp. 1-9. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mtcomm.2020.100988
Effects of vegetation on bacterial communities, carbon and nitrogen in dryland soil surfaces: implications for shrub encroachment in the southwest Kalahari
Thomas, Andrew D., Tooth, Stephen, Wu, Li and Elliott, D. 2020. Effects of vegetation on bacterial communities, carbon and nitrogen in dryland soil surfaces: implications for shrub encroachment in the southwest Kalahari. Science of The Total Environment. 764, pp. 1-11. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.142847
Compositional homogeneity in the pathobiome of a new, slow-spreading coral disease
Sweet, Michael, Burian, Alfred, Fifer, James, Bulling, Mark, Elliott, D. and Raymundo, Laurie 2019. Compositional homogeneity in the pathobiome of a new, slow-spreading coral disease. Microbiome. 7 (1), pp. 1-14. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40168-019-0759-6
Surface stability in drylands is influenced by dispersal strategy of soil bacteria
Elliott, D., Thomas, Andrew D., Strong, Craig L. and Bullard, Joanna 2019. Surface stability in drylands is influenced by dispersal strategy of soil bacteria. Journal of Geophysical Research: Biogeosciences. pp. 1-16. https://doi.org/10.1029/2018jg004932
Experimental data of bio self-healing concrete incubated in saturated natural soil
Souid, A., Esaker, M., Elliott, D. and Hamza, Omar 2019. Experimental data of bio self-healing concrete incubated in saturated natural soil. Data in Brief. 26, pp. 1-11. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dib.2019.104394
The influence of trees, shrubs, and grasses on microclimate, soil carbon, nitrogen, and CO2 efflux: Potential implications of shrub encroachment for Kalahari rangelands.
Thomas, Andrew David, Elliott, D., Dougill, Andrew John, Stringer, Lindsay Carman, Hoon, Stephen Robert and Sen, Robin 2018. The influence of trees, shrubs, and grasses on microclimate, soil carbon, nitrogen, and CO2 efflux: Potential implications of shrub encroachment for Kalahari rangelands. Land Degradation & Development. 29 (5), pp. 1-11. https://doi.org/10.1002/ldr.2918
Symbiotic microbes from marine invertebrates: Driving a new era of natural product drug discovery.
Blockley, Alix, Elliott, D., Roberts, Adam and Sweet, Michael J. 2017. Symbiotic microbes from marine invertebrates: Driving a new era of natural product drug discovery. Diversity. 9 (4), pp. 1-13. https://doi.org/10.3390/d9040049
Detecting macroecological patterns in bacterial communities across independent studies of global soils.
Ramirez, Kelly S., Knight, Christopher G., de Hollander, Mattias, Brearley, Francis Q., Constantinides, Bede, Cotton, Anne, Creer, Si, Crowther, Thomas W., Davison, John, Delgado-Baquerizo, Manuel, Dorrepaal, Ellen, Elliott, D., Fox, Graeme, Griffiths, Robert I., Hale, Chris, Hartman, Kyle, Houlden, Ashley, Jones, David L., Krab, Eveline J., Maestre, Fernando T., McGuire, Krista L., Monteux, Sylvain, Orr, Caroline H., van der Putten, Wim H., Roberts, Ian S., Robinson, David A., Rocca, Jennifer D., Rowntree, Jennifer, Schlaeppi, Klaus, Shepherd, Matthew, Singh, Brajesh K., Straathof, Angela L., Bhatnagar, Jennifer M., Thion, Cécile, van der Heijden, Marcel G. A. and de Vries, Franciska T. 2017. Detecting macroecological patterns in bacterial communities across independent studies of global soils. Nature Microbiology. 3, p. 189–196. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41564-017-0062-x
Sampling and Describing Glacier Ice
Toubes-Rodrigo, Mario, Cook, Simon J., Elliott, D. and Sen, Robin 2016. Sampling and Describing Glacier Ice. in: British Society for Geomorphology.
Arbuscular mycorrhizal community structure on co-existing tropical legume trees in French Guiana
Brearley, Francis Q., Elliott, D., Iribar, Amaia and Sen, Robin 2016. Arbuscular mycorrhizal community structure on co-existing tropical legume trees in French Guiana. Plant and Soil. 403, p. 253–265. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-016-2818-0
Pastoralism and Kalahari Rangeland Soils
Thomas, A.D., Elliott, D., Griffith, T.N.L. and Mairs, H. 2015. Pastoralism and Kalahari Rangeland Soils. in: Brearley, F. Q. and Thomas, A. D. (ed.) Land-Use Change Impacts On Soil Processes: Tropical And Savannah Ecosystems Wallingford CABI. pp. 122-132
Bacterial and fungal communities in a degraded ombrotrophic peatland undergoing natural and managed re-vegetation
Elliott, D., Caporn, S., Nwaishi, F., Nilsson, R. H. and Sen, R. 2015. Bacterial and fungal communities in a degraded ombrotrophic peatland undergoing natural and managed re-vegetation. PLos ONE. 10 (5), pp. 1-20. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0124726
Seasonal differences in soil CO2 efflux and carbon storage in Ntwetwe Pan, Makgadikgadi Basin, Botswana
Thomas, Andrew D., Dougill, Andrew J., Elliott, D. and Mairs, Helen 2014. Seasonal differences in soil CO2 efflux and carbon storage in Ntwetwe Pan, Makgadikgadi Basin, Botswana. Geoderma. 219-220. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geoderma.2013.12.028
Niche partitioning of bacterial communities in biological crusts and soils under grasses, shrubs and trees in the Kalahari
Elliott, D., Thomas, Andrew David, Hoon, Steve R. and Sen, Robin 2014. Niche partitioning of bacterial communities in biological crusts and soils under grasses, shrubs and trees in the Kalahari. Biodiversity and conservation. 23, p. 1709–1733. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10531-014-0684-8
Diversity of Planktonic and Attached Bacterial Communities in a Phenol-Contaminated Sandstone Aquifer
Rizoulis, Athanasios, Elliott, D., Rolfe, Stephen. A, Thornton, Steven. F, Banwart, Steven. A, Pickup, Roger. W and Scholes, Julie. D 2013. Diversity of Planktonic and Attached Bacterial Communities in a Phenol-Contaminated Sandstone Aquifer. Microbial Ecology. 66, p. 84–95. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00248-013-0233-0