Adding labile carbon to peatland soils triggers deep carbon breakdown

Sumudu Rajakaruna, Ghiwa Makke, Nathalia Graf Grachet, Christian Ayala-Ortiz, John Bouranis, David W. Hoyt, Jason Toyoda, Elizabeth H. Denis, James J. Moran, Tianze Song, Xiaoxu Sun, Elizabeth K. Eder, Allison R. Wong, Rosalie Chu, Heino Heyman, Max Kolton, Jeffrey P. Chanton, Rachel M. Wilson, Joel Kostka, Malak M. Tfaily

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Peatlands store vast amounts of carbon, with deep peat carbon remaining stable due to limited thermodynamic energy and transport. However, climate change-induced increases in labile carbon inputs could destabilize these stores. Here, we combined DNA stable isotope probing with stable isotope-assisted metabolomics employing a multi-platform approach to investigate microbial dynamics driving deep peat carbon degradation upon labile carbon (e.g., glucose) amendment. Our findings highlight the vulnerability of deep peat carbon, as glucose addition triggers the breakdown of older organic matter. By uniquely integrating these techniques, we identified active glucose metabolizers to specific microbial populations and mapped carbon flow through microbial networks, elucidating their role in priming recalcitrant carbon mineralization. This multi-omics approach offers crucial insights into how changing resources reshape the peatland microbiome, enhancing our understanding of deep carbon processing, and refining model parameterization to predict microbial responses and carbon cycle feedbacks under global change pressures.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article number792
JournalCommunications Earth and Environment
Volume5
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 2024

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Environmental Science
  • General Earth and Planetary Sciences

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