Skip to main content

Lund University Publications

LUND UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES

A unified representation of the temperature dependences of soil microbial growth and respiration

Brangarí, Albert C. LU orcid and Rousk, Johannes LU orcid (2025) In Communications Earth and Environment 6(1).
Abstract

Temperature impacts on microbiological processes are crucial for soil biogeochemistry and ecosystem functioning, yet existing models either fail to capture microbial temperature dependences across the full biokinetic range or risk overparameterization. Here we present the “Dual-Kinetics Ratkowsky” model (Ratkowsky DK), which simultaneously describes temperature dependences of microbial growth and respiration. Compared to established models (Arrhenius, Ratkowsky, MMRT, and MMRT-2S), Ratkowsky DK showed superior performance and parsimony when applied to soils along a climate gradient, with strong implications for estimating soil carbon stock changes. Although empirically derived, the model provides reliable estimates of microbial thermal... (More)

Temperature impacts on microbiological processes are crucial for soil biogeochemistry and ecosystem functioning, yet existing models either fail to capture microbial temperature dependences across the full biokinetic range or risk overparameterization. Here we present the “Dual-Kinetics Ratkowsky” model (Ratkowsky DK), which simultaneously describes temperature dependences of microbial growth and respiration. Compared to established models (Arrhenius, Ratkowsky, MMRT, and MMRT-2S), Ratkowsky DK showed superior performance and parsimony when applied to soils along a climate gradient, with strong implications for estimating soil carbon stock changes. Although empirically derived, the model provides reliable estimates of microbial thermal traits and climate responsiveness, reflecting warm- and cold-shifted adaptations. It also offers a biological interpretation whereby temperature-driven cell death fuels respiration beyond a threshold, explaining the decoupling between anabolism and catabolism. Ratkowsky DK represents a promising tool for advancing our understanding of microbial and biogeochemical responses to climate and implementation of ecology into Earth system representations. (Figure presented.)

(Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
Communications Earth and Environment
volume
6
issue
1
article number
724
publisher
Springer Nature
external identifiers
  • scopus:105014811113
ISSN
2662-4435
DOI
10.1038/s43247-025-02707-1
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
e4568b01-61e5-44c2-9562-2e18d38c5baf
date added to LUP
2025-10-02 16:14:37
date last changed
2025-10-14 11:19:44
@article{e4568b01-61e5-44c2-9562-2e18d38c5baf,
  abstract     = {{<p>Temperature impacts on microbiological processes are crucial for soil biogeochemistry and ecosystem functioning, yet existing models either fail to capture microbial temperature dependences across the full biokinetic range or risk overparameterization. Here we present the “Dual-Kinetics Ratkowsky” model (Ratkowsky DK), which simultaneously describes temperature dependences of microbial growth and respiration. Compared to established models (Arrhenius, Ratkowsky, MMRT, and MMRT-2S), Ratkowsky DK showed superior performance and parsimony when applied to soils along a climate gradient, with strong implications for estimating soil carbon stock changes. Although empirically derived, the model provides reliable estimates of microbial thermal traits and climate responsiveness, reflecting warm- and cold-shifted adaptations. It also offers a biological interpretation whereby temperature-driven cell death fuels respiration beyond a threshold, explaining the decoupling between anabolism and catabolism. Ratkowsky DK represents a promising tool for advancing our understanding of microbial and biogeochemical responses to climate and implementation of ecology into Earth system representations. (Figure presented.)</p>}},
  author       = {{Brangarí, Albert C. and Rousk, Johannes}},
  issn         = {{2662-4435}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{1}},
  publisher    = {{Springer Nature}},
  series       = {{Communications Earth and Environment}},
  title        = {{A unified representation of the temperature dependences of soil microbial growth and respiration}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s43247-025-02707-1}},
  doi          = {{10.1038/s43247-025-02707-1}},
  volume       = {{6}},
  year         = {{2025}},
}