Temperature Thresholds Govern Microbial-Mediated Dissolved Organic Carbon Dynamics in Coastal Ecosystems.

ABSTRACT: Temperature is a key factor influencing coastal carbon pools, yet the effects of warming on dissolved organic carbon (DOC) transformations and associated microbial processes remain poorly understood. Through bioassay experiments across a wide temperature gradient (7.6-35.9 °C), three critical thresholds (15.6, 24.6, and 29.9 °C) are identified that delineate distinct regimes of microbial DOC utilization with contrasting carbon fates. Below 15.6 °C, DOC characterized the most unique molecules, and their transformations are governed by bacteria whose relative abundance decreased with warming; hereafter warming-resistant microbes dominated accompanied by DOC molecular signatures that changed till 24.6 °C. Limited substrate availability constrained microbial remineralization rates in these two

SUBMITTER: Dong J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12786288 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature