Microbial Biogeochemistry of Carbon and Sulfur in Aquatic and Terrestrial Environments
This community investigates how microbial communities drive the cycling of carbon and sulfur in sediments, soils, and waters, focusing on processes like methane production, sulfate reduction, and organic carbon sequestration.
The work centers on the metabolic interactions between bacteria and their environments, specifically tracking the oxidation of methane, the reduction of sulfate to hydrogen sulfide, and the transformation of organic matter. Researchers frequently employ stable isotope analysis to trace these elemental flows through marine sediments, coastal wetlands, and soil profiles. The community also examines the impact of human activities, such as hydraulic fracturing and acid mine drainage, on these biogeochemical cycles, as well as the role of blue carbon ecosystems in climate regulation.
The largest share of the community's output is found in sulfur research, accounting for 2.5% of all sulfur research, and 7,408 papers here. Carbon research follows with 5,317 papers, representing 0.6% of all carbon research.
The community comprises 20,710 papers, published primarily in Frontiers in Microbiology, Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, and Applied and Environmental Microbiology.
Recent work continues to examine the dynamics of microbial communities in mangrove wetlands and the emission of methane and carbon dioxide from headwater streams, alongside studies on permafrost degradation and its effects on stream acidification.