A recent study published in the journal Nature Communications has revealed that drought stress may play an important role in the function of tropical rainforest soils. The research, conducted by scientists from the University of California, Santa Barbara, found that during periods of drought, soil microbial activity was significantly reduced. This reduction was linked to a decrease in carbon and nitrogen cycling, which can lead to a decrease in the fertility of soils in the long-term. Furthermore, the study showed that droughts can influence the composition of the microbial communities in the soil, with some groups of microbes being more prone to drought stress than others. This could potentially have an impact on the ability of the soil to retain nutrients and provide essential ecosystem services. The findings of this study are important for understanding how tropical rainforests respond to climate change and how these changes may affect the health of the soil.

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source: Phys.org