Microorganisms can play a significant role in mitigating climate change through carbon sequestration. Soil microbes, particularly those found in healthy, undisturbed soils, help capture and store carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere. They do this by breaking down organic matter from dead plants and animals and converting it into stable organic compounds, which are then stored in the soil. This process, known as carbon sequestration, helps reduce the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere, a key greenhouse gas responsible for global warming. Moreover, some microbes facilitate the formation of stable soil aggregates, which further enhance carbon storage by physically protecting organic matter from decomposition. By promoting healthy soil ecosystems, we can harness the carbon-sequestering capabilities of microorganisms as a valuable tool in climate change mitigation.

However, climate change can have significant impacts on the environments of microorganisms. Rising temperatures, altered precipitation patterns, and extreme weather events can disrupt microbial communities and their functions. Shifts in temperature and moisture can affect microbial activity, potentially accelerating the decomposition of stored carbon in soils and releasing more CO2 into the atmosphere. Additionally, changes in climate can influence the distribution of microorganisms, affecting their interactions with plants and other organisms. Overall, while microorganisms hold promise for carbon sequestration, their roles and responses in the context of climate change are complex, and understanding these dynamics is crucial for effective climate mitigation strategies.

Dr Gaurav H Tandon thank you for your contribution to the discussion

Some of the key soil microbes involved in carbon sequestration include: Mycorrhizal fungi: These fungi form mutualistic relationships with plant roots, helping plants to absorb nutrients and water from the soil. They also play a role in carbon sequestration by increasing the amount of carbon stored in the soil. However, the relationship between microorganisms and climate change is a two-way road, since microorganisms can directly affect climate change due to their involvement in greenhouse gas (GHG) synthesis and consumption, but they are part of the solution by acting as mitigation agents, and also their biodiversity. Microbes are involved in many processes, including the carbon and nitrogen cycles, and are responsible for both using and producing greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide and methane. Microbes can have positive and negative responses to temperature, making them an important component of climate change models. Microbes are adept at utilizing various compounds and methods as energy sources. In fact, microbes are responsible for the majority of photosynthesis on Earth, a process that removes carbon from the atmosphere and generates oxygen as a byproduct. Soil microbes can break down plant organic matter to carbon dioxide or convert it to dissolved organic carbon (DOC) compounds. This leads either to long-term carbon storage, because DOC can bind to soil particles, or to the release of carbon back to the atmosphere as carbon dioxide. The carbon cycle in microorganisms is part of a larger cycling of carbon that occurs on the global scale. The actions of microorganisms help extract carbon from non-living sources and make the carbon available to living organisms.Climate change induces alterations in soil microbial communities. Bacteria (red), archaea (blue), and fungal hyphae (green) in the center are impacted by changes in temperature, precipitation, storms, soil organic carbon (SOC), and greenhouse gases. Beneficial microbes such as rhizobacteria and mycorrhizal fungi can help plants to 'deal' with pathogens and herbivorous insects as well as to tolerate abiotic stress. Microorganisms have several vital roles in ecosystems: decomposition, oxygen production, evolution, and symbiotic relationships. Decomposition is where dead animal or plant matter is broken down into more basic molecules. Without microbial decomposer communities, life would be smothered in dead organisms. Microorganisms also carry out almost half of the photosynthesis on our planet, increasing oxygen levels and lowering carbon dioxide. The carbon sources were acetate (CH3COO-), glucose (C6H12O6), pyruvate (CH3COCO2H), glyco- late (C2H4O3) and L-amino acids (H2NCHRCOOH, were R is an organic substituent). These carbon sources have a proven importance for the growth of bacteria. Carbon dioxide is effective for extending the shelf-life of perishable foods by retarding bacterial growth. The overall effect of carbon dioxide is to increase both the lag phase and the generation time of spoilage microorganisms; however, the specific mechanism for the bacteriostatic effect is not known.