A TRAIT-BASED APPROACH FOR UNDERSTANDING THE ROLE OF FIRE-ADAPTED MICROBES ON SOIL CARBON SEQUESTRATION AND GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS

We propose a multi-faceted approach combining field observations, laboratory manipulations, cutting edge 'omics and biogeochemical tools, biophysical assays, and genomics of environmental isolates to answer our overarching question and address our three objectives: How do pyrophilous microbes affect soil C storage and GHG emissions in chaparral post-fire? Objective 1: identify traits of pyrophilous bacteria and fungi; Objective 2: determine if traits predict microbial succession, e.g., changes in microbiomes over time; Objective 3: link post-fire microbial traits and succession to soil C sequestration and GHG emissions in post-fire California chaparral. We will integrate results across our three objectives to transform our understanding of fire effects on C storage and GHG emissions from the individual isolate to the soil microbial community scale.