Nome Creek Metagenome. terrestrial metagenome

The northern boreal forests are struck by wildfires in various intervals from decades to hundred years. However due to increasing global temperatures, fire season is predicted to prolong with increasing frequency. Fire is a major factor controlling the soil carbon (C) dynamics. Disturbance by fire is the dominant process for converting organic C to inorganic forms. Not only burning biomass contributes to global emission of CO2 and CH4, but also the intense heat modifies the surface, resulting in thawing of near-surface permafrost and the deepening of the active soil layer. This project focuses on determining the long-term effects of fire and subsequent soil temperature increase on the microbial community composition and metabolic potential in an upland boreal forest.