Microbial Respiration

AUS-TDG-CON-SMR General Moderate confidence

Benchmark Value

20.06 mg/kg/day

Direction: Higher is desirable ↑

Form: Point

Scoring Curve

This curve shows how a field measurement for this indicator would score across all available benchmark forms in this context. The scoring engine uses 5 benchmarks together — the OptimalRange form drives the primary score, while 4 guard(s) constrain the result.

Contributing Benchmarks

OptimalRange Primary Point Guard Point Guard Point Guard Point Guard

Evidence & Context

The identified benchmark for basal soil microbial respiration of approximately 20.06 mg CO2-C kg soil−1 day−1 (under laboratory conditions of 25°C and optimal moisture) for Australian Temperate Dry Woodlands and Native Grasslands in conservation areas provides a valuable, albeit specific, reference point.

Metric Definition:

Basal microbial respiration rate measured as mg CO2-C produced per kg of soil per day under controlled laboratory conditions (25°C and optimal moisture).

Benchmark Definition:

This benchmark represents the basal microbial respiration rate, indicating the metabolic activity of soil microorganisms releasing CO2 under standardized laboratory conditions in Australian temperate dry woodlands and native grasslands within conservation areas.

Justification:

Derived from a peer-reviewed study at a well-characterized Australian TERN SuperSite within a conservation area, representing a relatively undisturbed native woodland ecosystem.

Sources (1)

Preview of Response of respiration and nutrient availability to drying and rewetting in soil from a semi-arid woodland depends on vegetation patch and a recent wildfire - BG

Response of respiration and nutrient availability to drying and rewetting in soil from a semi-arid woodland depends on vegetation patch and a recent wildfire - BG Journal

Response of soil respiration to drying and rewetting - BG

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Supporting Sources (11)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Preview of (PDF) TERN, Australia's Land Observatory: addressing the global challenge of forecasting ecosystem responses to climate variability and change - ResearchGate, accessed on June 5, 2025

(PDF) TERN, Australia's Land Observatory: addressing the global challenge of forecasting ecosystem responses to climate variability and change - ResearchGate, accessed on June 5, 2025

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

(PDF) TERN, Australia's Land Observatory: addressing the global challenge of forecasting ecosystem responses to climate variability and change - ResearchGate, accessed August 12, 2025,

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Australia state of the environment 2021: land, accessed May 11, 2025

Contextual Support Journal

Buffel grass in Queensland's semi-arid woodlands - CSIRO Publishing, accessed July 13, 2025

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Carbon Pool Dynamic and Soil Microbial Respiration Affected by Land Use Alteration: A Case Study in Humid Subtropical Area - MDPI

Contextual Support Journal

Carbon Pool Dynamic and Soil Microbial Respiration Affected by Land Use Alteration: A Case Study in Humid Subtropical Area - MDPI, accessed July 9, 2025

View Source

Great Western Woodlands Flux Data Release 2024_v2 - TERN Data ...

Contextual Support Government

Great Western Woodlands Flux Data Release 2024_v2 - TERN Data ...

View Source

Response of respiration and nutrient availability to drying and rewetting in soil from a semi-arid woodland depends on vegetation patch and a recent wild fire - ResearchGate

Contextual Support Journal

Response of respiration and nutrient availability to drying and rewetting in soil from a semi-arid woodland depends on vegetation patch and a recent wild fire - ResearchGate

View Source

Soil microbial biomass C, available N and P in soil under shrubs and... - ResearchGate

Contextual Support Journal

Soil microbial biomass C, available N and P in soil under shrubs and... - ResearchGate

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Soil microbial respiration adapts to ambient temperature in global drylands - PMC, accessed August 5, 2025,

Contextual Support

Soil – the driver of carbon dioxide variability over Australia

View Source

Soil Research - CSIRO PUBLISHING, accessed August 5, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Soil Research - CSIRO PUBLISHING

View Source

Soil Respiration in Semiarid Temperate Grasslands under Various Land Management - PMC - PubMed Central

Contextual Support Journal

Soil Respiration in Semiarid Temperate Grasslands under Various Land Management - PMC - PubMed Central

View Source

Preview of Soil respiration rate and its sensitivity to temperature in pasture systems of dry-tropics - Taylor & Francis Online, accessed July 30, 2025,

Soil respiration rate and its sensitivity to temperature in pasture systems of dry-tropics - Taylor & Francis Online, accessed July 30, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Soil respiration rate and its sensitivity to temperature in pasture systems of dry-tropics - Taylor & Francis Online

View Source

Preview of Srivastava, S. C., & Singh, J. S. (1989). Effect of cultivation on microbial biomass C and N of a dry tropical forest soil. Biology and Fertility of Soils, 8(4), 343-348.

Srivastava, S. C., & Singh, J. S. (1989). Effect of cultivation on microbial biomass C and N of a dry tropical forest soil. Biology and Fertility of Soils, 8(4), 343-348.

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Soil microbial biomass, activity and community composition in adjacent native and plantation forests of subtropical Australia | Request PDF - ResearchGate

View Source

Context

Region Australia
Biome Temperate Dry Woodlands & Native Grasslands
Land Use Conservation / Protected Natural Areas
Assessment Pristine Reference
Evidence Type ReferenceCondition

Lifecycle

Status Active
Version 1
Effective From 3 Jun 2026

Notes

No upper detrimental threshold — higher values are always better up to natural saturation. Value derived from a single high-quality study under specific lab conditions; represents a high-health conservation site in a semi-arid woodland, closely related to temperate dry woodlands.