Aerobic and anaerobic microbial activities in the foreland of a receding glacier

► Cmic and activities distinctly increased in relation to soil age and during summer. ► Archaeal abundance and CH4 emission increased along the chronosequence. ► Potential CH4 emission increased with increasing temperature and water saturation. ► CH4 oxidation increased along with soil age and at the end of the growing season. ► CH4 oxidation by far exceeds CH4 production.