Hydrology, vegetation, and soil properties as key drivers of soil organic carbon in coastal wetlands: A high-resolution study.

ABSTRACT: Coastal wetlands are important blue carbon ecosystems that play a significant role in the global carbon cycle. However, there is insufficient understanding of the variations in soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks and the mechanisms driving these ecosystems. Here we analyze a comprehensive multi-source dataset of SOC in topsoil (0-20 cm) and subsoil (20-100 cm) across 31 coastal wetlands in China to identify the factors influencing their distribution. Structural equation models (SEMs) reveal that hydrology has the greatest overall effect on SOC in both soil layers, followed by vegetation, soil properties, and climate. Notably, the mechanisms driving SOC density differ between the two layers. In topsoil, vegetation type and productivity directly impact carbon density as primary sources of carbo

SUBMITTER: Guo M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11417691 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature