Regression analyses (linear, exponential, and power curves) were used to describe the temporal dynamics of respiration and growth rates. Curves were fitted using Kaleidagraph 4.1 (Synergy
Software 2010). Our default model to describe changes in microbial growth rates over time were exponential (Brock, 1971). This was also used for respiration during the exponential growth phase and during declining respiration after rewetting (Li et al., 2010). However, by inspecting the residual to the fitted curve, we found instances where exponential models gave poor fits. For these, we chose the model least prone to show systematic patterns in the residuals to fitted curves. Cumulative respiration and bacterial and fungal growth during 125 h after rewetting were estimated by determining the area under the fitted curves, and values were normalised to unity for the control.