Impacts of wildfire on soil microbiome in Boreal environments

Abstract

Abstract The temperature changes for the future climate are predicted to be the most pronounced in boreal and arctic regions, affecting the stability of permafrost and fire dynamics of these areas. Fires can affect soil microbiome (archaea, bacteria, fungi, protists) directly via generated heat, while fire-altered soil properties have an indirect effect on soil microbiome. Fires usually decrease microbial biomass and alter microbial community composition. These changes can take decades to recover to pre-fire states. As the fire occurrence times are expected to change in the future, and the fire return intervals, intensity and severity are expected to increase in boreal environments, the fire-related changes in the soil microbiome, including its recovery and resilience, are inevitable.