IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/nat/natcom/v13y2022i1d10.1038_s41467-022-32681-7.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Divergent changes in particulate and mineral-associated organic carbon upon permafrost thaw

Author

Listed:
  • Futing Liu

    (Chinese Academy of Forestry
    Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Shuqi Qin

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences
    University of Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Kai Fang

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences
    University of Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Leiyi Chen

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Yunfeng Peng

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Pete Smith

    (University of Aberdeen)

  • Yuanhe Yang

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences
    University of Chinese Academy of Sciences)

Abstract

Permafrost thaw can stimulate microbial decomposition and induce soil carbon (C) loss, potentially triggering a positive C-climate feedback. However, earlier observations have concentrated on bulk soil C dynamics upon permafrost thaw, with limited evidence involving soil C fractions. Here, we explore how the functionally distinct fractions, including particulate and mineral-associated organic C (POC and MAOC) as well as iron-bound organic C (OC-Fe), respond to permafrost thaw using systematic measurements derived from one permafrost thaw sequence and five additional thermokarst-impacted sites on the Tibetan Plateau. We find that topsoil POC content substantially decreases, while MAOC content remains stable and OC-Fe accumulates due to the enriched Fe oxides after permafrost thaw. Moreover, the proportion of MAOC and OC-Fe increases along the thaw sequence and at most of the thermokarst-impacted sites. The relatively enriched stable soil C fractions would alleviate microbial decomposition and weaken its feedback to climate warming over long-term thermokarst development.

Suggested Citation

  • Futing Liu & Shuqi Qin & Kai Fang & Leiyi Chen & Yunfeng Peng & Pete Smith & Yuanhe Yang, 2022. "Divergent changes in particulate and mineral-associated organic carbon upon permafrost thaw," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-10, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:13:y:2022:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-022-32681-7
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-32681-7
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-022-32681-7
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1038/s41467-022-32681-7?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Leiyi Chen & Li Liu & Chao Mao & Shuqi Qin & Jun Wang & Futing Liu & Sergey Blagodatsky & Guibiao Yang & Qiwen Zhang & Dianye Zhang & Jianchun Yu & Yuanhe Yang, 2018. "Nitrogen availability regulates topsoil carbon dynamics after permafrost thaw by altering microbial metabolic efficiency," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 9(1), pages 1-11, December.
    2. Carmody K. McCalley & Ben J. Woodcroft & Suzanne B. Hodgkins & Richard A. Wehr & Eun-Hae Kim & Rhiannon Mondav & Patrick M. Crill & Jeffrey P. Chanton & Virginia I. Rich & Gene W. Tyson & Scott R. Sal, 2014. "Methane dynamics regulated by microbial community response to permafrost thaw," Nature, Nature, vol. 514(7523), pages 478-481, October.
    3. Wenjuan Huang & Steven J. Hall, 2017. "Elevated moisture stimulates carbon loss from mineral soils by releasing protected organic matter," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 8(1), pages 1-10, December.
    4. Leiyi Chen & Junyi Liang & Shuqi Qin & Li Liu & Kai Fang & Yunping Xu & Jinzhi Ding & Fei Li & Yiqi Luo & Yuanhe Yang, 2016. "Determinants of carbon release from the active layer and permafrost deposits on the Tibetan Plateau," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 7(1), pages 1-12, December.
    5. Monique S. Patzner & Carsten W. Mueller & Miroslava Malusova & Moritz Baur & Verena Nikeleit & Thomas Scholten & Carmen Hoeschen & James M. Byrne & Thomas Borch & Andreas Kappler & Casey Bryce, 2020. "Iron mineral dissolution releases iron and associated organic carbon during permafrost thaw," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 11(1), pages 1-11, December.
    6. Merritt R. Turetsky & Benjamin W. Abbott & Miriam C. Jones & Katey Walter Anthony & David Olefeldt & Edward A. G. Schuur & Charles Koven & A. David McGuire & Guido Grosse & Peter Kuhry & Gustaf Hugeli, 2019. "Permafrost collapse is accelerating carbon release," Nature, Nature, vol. 569(7754), pages 32-34, May.
    7. Chunmei Chen & Steven J. Hall & Elizabeth Coward & Aaron Thompson, 2020. "Iron-mediated organic matter decomposition in humid soils can counteract protection," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 11(1), pages 1-13, December.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Sudakow, Ivan & Savenkova, Elena & Kondrashov, Dmitri & Vakulenko, Sergey A. & Sashina, Elena, 2023. "Diverse soil microbial communities may mitigate climate system bifurcation," Chaos, Solitons & Fractals, Elsevier, vol. 177(C).
    2. Jannik Martens & Carsten W. Mueller & Prachi Joshi & Christoph Rosinger & Markus Maisch & Andreas Kappler & Michael Bonkowski & Georg Schwamborn & Lutz Schirrmeister & Janet Rethemeyer, 2023. "Stabilization of mineral-associated organic carbon in Pleistocene permafrost," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-8, December.
    3. Shuai Ren & Tao Wang & Bertrand Guenet & Dan Liu & Yingfang Cao & Jinzhi Ding & Pete Smith & Shilong Piao, 2024. "Projected soil carbon loss with warming in constrained Earth system models," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-10, December.
    4. Andreas Breidenbach & Per-Marten Schleuss & Shibin Liu & Dominik Schneider & Michaela A. Dippold & Tilman Haye & Georg Miehe & Felix Heitkamp & Elke Seeber & Kyle Mason-Jones & Xingliang Xu & Yang Hua, 2022. "Microbial functional changes mark irreversible course of Tibetan grassland degradation," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-10, December.
    5. Roman Desyatkin & Matrena Okoneshnikova & Alexandra Ivanova & Maya Nikolaeva & Nikolay Filippov & Alexey Desyatkin, 2022. "Dynamics of Vegetation and Soil Cover of Pyrogenically Disturbed Areas of the Northern Taiga under Conditions of Thermokarst Development and Climate Warming," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(9), pages 1-21, September.
    6. Callesen, I. & Magnussen, A., 2021. "TransparC2U–A two-pool, pedology oriented forest soil carbon simulation model aimed at user investigations of multiple uncertainties," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 453(C).
    7. Zhang, Shicong & Wang, Ke & Xu, Wei & Iyer-Raniga, Usha & Athienitis, Andreas & Ge, Hua & Cho, Dong woo & Feng, Wei & Okumiya, Masaya & Yoon, Gyuyoung & Mazria, Edward & Lyu, Yanjie, 2021. "Policy recommendations for the zero energy building promotion towards carbon neutral in Asia-Pacific Region," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 159(C).
    8. M. E. Marushchak & J. Kerttula & K. Diáková & A. Faguet & J. Gil & G. Grosse & C. Knoblauch & N. Lashchinskiy & P. J. Martikainen & A. Morgenstern & M. Nykamb & J. G. Ronkainen & H. M. P. Siljanen & L, 2021. "Thawing Yedoma permafrost is a neglected nitrous oxide source," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 12(1), pages 1-10, December.
    9. Jared L. Wilmoth, 2021. "Redox Heterogeneity Entangles Soil and Climate Interactions," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(18), pages 1-14, September.
    10. Jing Wei & Laurent Fontaine & Nicolas Valiente & Peter Dörsch & Dag O. Hessen & Alexander Eiler, 2023. "Trajectories of freshwater microbial genomics and greenhouse gas saturation upon glacial retreat," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-12, December.
    11. Chenzheng Li & Anatoly V. Brouchkov & Viktor G. Cheverev & Andrey V. Sokolov & Kunyang Li, 2022. "Emission of Methane and Carbon Dioxide during Soil Freezing without Permafrost," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(7), pages 1-11, April.
    12. Rashit M. Hantemirov & Christophe Corona & Sébastien Guillet & Stepan G. Shiyatov & Markus Stoffel & Timothy J. Osborn & Thomas M. Melvin & Ludmila A. Gorlanova & Vladimir V. Kukarskih & Alexander Y. , 2022. "Current Siberian heating is unprecedented during the past seven millennia," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-8, December.
    13. Kirill A. Bashmur & Oleg A. Kolenchukov & Vladimir V. Bukhtoyarov & Vadim S. Tynchenko & Sergei O. Kurashkin & Elena V. Tsygankova & Vladislav V. Kukartsev & Roman B. Sergienko, 2022. "Biofuel Technologies and Petroleum Industry: Synergy of Sustainable Development for the Eastern Siberian Arctic," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(20), pages 1-25, October.
    14. Zhu, Jie & Chen, Shanghong & Zhang, Qingwen & Mei, Xurong, 2023. "Multi-year vertical and life cycle impacts of C-N management on soil moisture regimes," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 290(C).
    15. Tagliapietra, Simone & Wolff, Guntram B., 2021. "Conditions are ideal for a new climate club," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 158(C).
    16. Xiaoqian Li & Jianwei Xing & Shouji Pang & Youhai Zhu & Shuai Zhang & Rui Xiao & Cheng Lu, 2022. "Carbon Isotopic Evidence for Gas Hydrate Release and Its Significance on Seasonal Wetland Methane Emission in the Muli Permafrost of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(4), pages 1-14, February.
    17. Alexandra B Cory & Jeffrey P Chanton & Robert G M Spencer & Olivia C Ogles & Virginia I Rich & Carmody K McCalley & IsoGenie Project Coordinators & EMERGE 2021 Field Team & Rachel M Wilson, 2022. "Quantifying the inhibitory impact of soluble phenolics on anaerobic carbon mineralization in a thawing permafrost peatland," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 17(2), pages 1-19, February.
    18. Bong Gu Kang & Kyung-Min Seo & Tag Gon Kim, 2018. "Communication Analysis of Network-Centric Warfare via Transformation of System of Systems Model into Integrated System Model Using Neural Network," Complexity, Hindawi, vol. 2018, pages 1-16, June.
    19. Nikolaos V. Paranychianakis & Giorgos Giannakis & Daniel Moraetis & Vasileios A. Tzanakakis & Nikolaos P. Nikolaidis, 2021. "Crop Litter Has a Strong Effect on Soil Organic Matter Sequestration in Semi-Arid Environments," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(23), pages 1-14, November.
    20. Yunpeng Zhao & Chengzhu Liu & Xingqi Li & Lixiao Ma & Guoqing Zhai & Xiaojuan Feng, 2023. "Sphagnum increases soil’s sequestration capacity of mineral-associated organic carbon via activating metal oxides," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-11, December.

    More about this item

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:13:y:2022:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-022-32681-7. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.nature.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.