We tested whether experimental summer drought affects the transfer of recently photosynthesized carbon from plants to soil mesofauna in a subalpine meadow. From day one after (13)CO(2) pulse-labelling of the plant canopy, roots, collembolans and mites were enriched in δ(13)C in control, but not in drought plots. However, as the difference in δ(13)C between roots and soil animals was not affected by the drought treatment, we conclude that drought affects the tight linkage between photosynthesis and soil mesofauna primarily via functional responses of plants rather than via changes in the mesofauna.