A climatically significant abiotic mechanism driving carbon loss and nitrogen limitation in peat bogs.

ABSTRACT: Sphagnum-dominated bogs are climatically impactful systems that exhibit two puzzling characteristics: CO₂:CH₄ ratios are greater than those predicted by electron balance models and C decomposition rates are enigmatically slow. We hypothesized that Maillard reactions partially explain both phenomena by increasing apparent CO₂ production via eliminative decarboxylation and sequestering bioavailable nitrogen (N). We tested this hypothesis using incubations of sterilized Maillard reactants, and live and sterilized bog peat. Consistent with our hypotheses, CO₂ production in the sterilized peat was equivalent to 8-13% of CO₂ production in unsterilized peat, and the increased formation of aromatic N compounds decreased N-availability. Numerou

SUBMITTER: Cory AB 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11747108 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature