Microbial and Environmental Processes Shape the Link between Organic Matter Functional Traits and Composition
- Ang HuAng HuCollege of Resources and Environment, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha 410128, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Lake Science and Environment, Nanjing Institute of Geography and Limnology, Chinese Academic of Sciences, Nanjing 210008, ChinaMore by Ang Hu
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- Kyoung-Soon JangKyoung-Soon JangBio-Chemical Analysis Team, Korea Basic Science Institute, Cheongju 28119, South KoreaMore by Kyoung-Soon Jang
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- Fanfan MengFanfan MengState Key Laboratory of Lake Science and Environment, Nanjing Institute of Geography and Limnology, Chinese Academic of Sciences, Nanjing 210008, ChinaUniversity of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, ChinaMore by Fanfan Meng
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- James StegenJames StegenPacific Northwest National Laboratory, 902 Battelle Boulevard, P.O. Box 999, Richland, Washington 99352, United StatesMore by James Stegen
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- Andrew J. TanentzapAndrew J. TanentzapEcosystems and Global Change Group, Department of Plant Sciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3EA, U.K.More by Andrew J. Tanentzap
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- Mira ChoiMira ChoiBio-Chemical Analysis Team, Korea Basic Science Institute, Cheongju 28119, South KoreaMore by Mira Choi
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- Jay T. LennonJay T. LennonDepartment of Biology, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana 47405, United StatesMore by Jay T. Lennon
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- Janne SoininenJanne SoininenDepartment of Geosciences and Geography, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, FIN 00014, FinlandMore by Janne Soininen
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- Jianjun Wang*Jianjun Wang*Email: [email protected]State Key Laboratory of Lake Science and Environment, Nanjing Institute of Geography and Limnology, Chinese Academic of Sciences, Nanjing 210008, ChinaUniversity of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, ChinaMore by Jianjun Wang
Abstract
Dissolved organic matter (DOM) is a large and complex mixture of molecules that fuels microbial metabolism and regulates biogeochemical cycles. Individual DOM molecules have unique functional traits, but how their assemblages vary deterministically under global change remains poorly understood. Here, we examine DOM and associated bacteria in 300 aquatic microcosms deployed on mountainsides that span contrasting temperatures and nutrient gradients. Based on molecular trait dimensions of reactivity and activity, we partition the DOM composition into labile-active, recalcitrant-active, recalcitrant-inactive, and labile-inactive fractions and quantify the relative influences of deterministic and stochastic processes governing the assembly of each. At both subtropical and subarctic study sites, the assembly of labile or recalcitrant molecules in active fractions is primarily governed by deterministic processes, while stochastic processes are more important for the assembly of molecules within inactive fractions. Surprisingly, the importance of deterministic selection increases with global change gradients for recalcitrant molecules in both active and inactive fractions, and this trend is paralleled by changes in the deterministic assembly of microbial communities and environmental filtering, respectively. Together, our results highlight the shift in focus from potential reactivity to realized activity and indicate that active and inactive fractions of DOM assemblages are structured by contrasting processes, and their recalcitrant components are consistently sensitive to global change. Our study partitions the DOM molecular composition across functional traits and links DOM with microbes via a shared ecological framework of assembly processes. This integrated approach opens new avenues to understand the assembly and turnover of organic carbon in a changing world.
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