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Microbial evolution drives adaptation of substrate degradation on ecological timescales
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  • Elsa Abs,
  • David Coulette,
  • Philippe Ciais,
  • Steven Allison
Elsa Abs
LSCE

Corresponding Author:elsa.abs.hallet@gmail.com

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David Coulette
ENS de Lyon
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Philippe Ciais
LSCE
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Steven Allison
University of California, Irvine
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Abstract

Understanding microbial adaptation is crucial for predicting how soil carbon dynamics and global biogeochemical cycles will respond to climate change. This study employs the DEMENT model of microbial decomposition, along with empirical mutation and dispersal rates, to explore the roles of mutation and dispersal in adaptation of soil microbial populations to shifts in litter chemistry, changes that are anticipated with climate-driven vegetation dynamics. Following a change in litter chemistry, mutation generally allows for a higher rate of litter decomposition than dispersal, especially when dispersal predominantly introduces genotypes already present in the population. These findings challenge the common idea that mutation rates are too low to affect ecosystem processes on ecological timescales. These results demonstrate that evolutionary processes, such as mutation, can help maintain ecosystem functioning as the climate changes.
16 May 2024Submitted to Ecology Letters
31 May 2024Submission Checks Completed
31 May 2024Assigned to Editor
05 Jun 2024Reviewer(s) Assigned
05 Jul 2024Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
29 Jul 2024Editorial Decision: Revise Major
12 Aug 20241st Revision Received
12 Aug 2024Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
12 Aug 2024Submission Checks Completed
12 Aug 2024Assigned to Editor
20 Aug 2024Reviewer(s) Assigned
13 Sep 2024Editorial Decision: Accept