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Why do microbial communities in tundra soils change from winter to summer?
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Polar ecosystem
Southern limit of Arctic tundra and approximate line of demarcation between Low and High Arctic.
Microbial communities in tundra soils undergo dramatic compositional changes between winter and summer in direct response to shifting environmental conditions. These shifts are primarily driven by fluctuations in soil temperature, moisture levels, and the availability of carbon.1
Additionally, the nature of the carbon-containing substratesāthe surfaces upon which these microbes resideāchanges seasonally, further influencing community structure. While these microbial populations remain active even under the snow during winter, their transition into the summer months is essential for biogeochemical processes, including nutrient regeneration and the carbon cycle, which support the broader ecosystem.1