The missing link: microbes in Paris

Abstract

The Conference of the Parties on Climate Change in Paris places this pressing environmental issue at the forefront of our attention. Many of us might wonder if and how microbes are affected by climate change, and ultimately, if what we know about them is of any use in Paris. The relationship between microbes and climate is a two-way street. In one regard, microbes have an immense effect on climate as major controllers of greenhouse gases (GHGs), such as carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide. Conversely, microbes and microbial communities largely respond to temperature and, thus, will shift along with increasing global temperatures.