Organic matter stability and lability in terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems: A chemical and microbial perspective

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Terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems have specific carbon fingerprints and sequestration potential, due to the intrinsic properties of the organic matter (OM), mineral content, environmental conditions, and microbial community composition and functions. A small variation in the OM pool can imbalance the carbon dynamics that ultimately affect the climate and functionality of each ecosystem, at regional and global scales. Here, we review the factors that continuously contribute to carbon stability and lability, with particular attention to the OM formation and nature, as well as the microbial activities that drive OM aggregation, degradation and eventually greenhouse gas emissions. We identified that in both aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems, microbial attributes (i.e., carbon metabolism, carbon use efficiency, necromass, enzymatic activities) play a pivotal role in transforming the carbon stock and yet they are far from being completely characterised and not often included in carbon estimations. Therefore, future research must focus on the integration of microbial components into carbon mapping and models, as well as on translating molecular-scaled studies into practical approaches. These strategies will improve carbon management and restoration across ecosystems and contribute to overcome current climate challenges. View source
Year

2024

Secondary Title

Science of the Total Environment

Volume

906

Number

906

Pages

22

DOI

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.167757

Keyword(s)

Organic matter; Carbon stock and turnover Microbial activities; Extracellular enzymes Microbial communities; leaf-litter decomposition; soil enzyme-activity; peat swamp forest; carbon storage; humic substances; temperate soils; plant litter; bacterial community; nitrogen addition; marine sediment; Environmental Sciences & Ecology

Classification
Form: Journal Article

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