Advancing ecosystem understanding of carbon turnover and storage through molecular characterization
EMSL Project ID
49693
Abstract
The coupling between concurrently changing carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) cycles remains a key uncertainty in understanding feedbacks between the terrestrial C cycle and climate change. Decades of empirical studies addressing N effects on soil C storage have not revealed predictable relationships between N additions and ecosystem C cycling. This is in part, because soil harbors a wealth of diverse organic molecules, most of which have not been measured in hypothesis driven field research. Therefore empiricists have not identified the molecular biochemistry that regulates C stabilization in soil. For the first time, we will systematically assess the chemical composition of soil organic matter (SOM) and functional characteristics of the soil microbiome, and relate this new information to existing metagenomic and ecosystem data collected from our research sites. Such knowledge could transform our understanding of the molecular underpinnings of ecosystem C and N cycling. These findings will enhance our ability to predict the capacity for terrestrial ecosystems to sequester atmospheric CO2 and the potential for ecosystems to be managed for long-term soil C storage.
Project Details
Start Date
2016-12-01
End Date
2017-09-30
Status
Closed
Released Data Link
Team
Principal Investigator
Co-Investigator(s)
Team Members
Related Publications
Capek P., R.F. Starke, K.S. Hofmockel, B. Bond-Lamberty, and N.J. Hess. 2019. "Apparent temperature sensitivity of soil respiration can result from temperature driven changes in microbial biomass." Soil Biology and Biochemistry 135. PNNL-SA-140117. doi:10.1016/J.SOILBIO.2019.05.016