Current mix of soil bacteria and climate conditions 50 years ago

Scientists expect climate change influences the geographical distribution of microbes in the soil, but few studies have dug deeply into that relationship. A new study suggests the connection can drag across decades. After sequencing soil samples from North American and the Tibetan plateau, and comparing those to historical climate records, an international team of researchers found that today’s mix of soil bacteria is strongly influenced by the climate of 50 years ago.