Urban soil microbial community and microbial-related carbon storage are severely limited by sealing

Abstract Purpose Urbanisation causes changes in land use, from natural or rural to urban, leading the sealing of soil and replacement vegetation by buildings, roads pavements. The process impacts properties services can lead negative consequences for microbial attributes processes soil. At present, information about community following is limited. As such, we investigated how physical chemical caused affect ecosystem services. Material methods Soils were sampled beneath impervious pavements (sealed) adjacent pervious greenspace areas (unsealed). Soil (total C, total N, C:N ratio water content) (microbial biomass N-mineralisation phospholipid fatty acids—PLFA) measured correlated. Results discussion A reduction content observed sealed soil, whilst increased. Sealed also presented a attributes, with low revealing suppressed activity. PLFA data positive correlations N content, suggesting that may be reduced as response properties. Furthermore, fungal:bacterial gram-positive:gram-negative bacterial ratios lower indicating degradation C sequestration consequential effect on storage. Conclusions Sealing notable subsequent upon activity storage potential.