Positron-emitting radiotracers spatially resolve unexpected biogeochemical relationships linked with methane oxidation in Arctic soils

Arctic soils are marked by cryoturbic features, which impact soil-atmosphere methane (CH₄ ) dynamics vital to global climate regulation. Cryoturbic diapirism alters C/N chemistry within frost boils by introducing soluble organic carbon and nutrients, potentially influencing microbial CH₄ oxidation. CH₄ oxidation in soils, however, requires a spatio-temporal convergence of ecological factors to occur. Spatial delineation of microbial activity with respect to these key microbial and biogeochemical factors at relevant scales is experimentally challenging in inherently complex and heterogeneous natural soil matrices. This work aims to overcome this barrier by spatially linking microbial CH₄ oxidation with C/N chemistry and metagenomic characteristics. This is achieved by using positron-emitting radiotracers to visualize millimeter-scale active CH₄ uptake areas in Arctic soils with and without diapirism. X-ray absorption spectroscopic speciation of active and inactive areas shows CH₄ uptake spatially associates with greater proportions of inorganic N in diapiric frost boils. Metagenomic analyses reveal Ralstonia pickettii associates with CH₄ uptake across soils along with pertinent CH₄ and inorganic N metabolism associated genes. This study highlights the critical relationship between CH₄ and N cycles in Arctic soils, with potential implications for better understanding future climate. Furthermore, our experimental framework presents a novel, widely applicable strategy for unraveling ecological relationships underlying greenhouse gas dynamics under global change.