Articles | Volume 22, issue 22
https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-22-6979-2025
© Author(s) 2025. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-22-6979-2025
© Author(s) 2025. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Research article
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20 Nov 2025
Research article | Highlight paper |
| 20 Nov 2025
| 20 Nov 2025
Novel oxalate-carbonate pathways identified in the tropical dry evergreen forest of Tamil Nadu, India
Institute of Earth Surface Dynamics, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, 1015, Switzerland
Microbiology Laboratory, University of Neuchâtel, Neuchâtel, 2000, Switzerland
Eric P. Verrecchia
Institute of Earth Surface Dynamics, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, 1015, Switzerland
Saskia Bindschedler
Microbiology Laboratory, University of Neuchâtel, Neuchâtel, 2000, Switzerland
Guillaume Cailleau
Microbiology Laboratory, University of Neuchâtel, Neuchâtel, 2000, Switzerland
Aviram Rozin
Sadhana Forest, Auroville, 605101, Tamil Nadu, India
Munisamy Anbarashan
Ecology Department, French Institute of Pondicherry, Pondicherry, 605001, India
Shubhendu Dasgupta
Sadhana Forest, Auroville, 605101, Tamil Nadu, India
Thomas Junier
Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, Swiss Federal Technology Institute of Lausanne, Vital-IT Group, Lausanne, 1015, Switzerland
Nicolas Roeschli
Institute of Earth Surface Dynamics, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, 1015, Switzerland
Pascal Vittoz
Institute of Earth Surface Dynamics, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, 1015, Switzerland
Mike C. Rowley
Department of Geography, University of Zurich, Zurich, 8057, Switzerland
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Binyan Sun, Guido L. B. Wiesenberg, Elaine Pegoraro, Margaret S. Torn, Michael W. I. Schmidt, and Mike C. Rowley
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-5483, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-5483, 2025
This preprint is open for discussion and under review for SOIL (SOIL).
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Soil is the largest terrestrial carbon pool but vulnerable to loss under warming. Using a +4 °C whole-soil warming experiment at Blodgett Forest Research Station to 1 m depth, we investigated density fractions across depths. Below 50 cm, carbon quantity and composition shifted, mainly from losses of unprotected soil organic carbon. Soil carbon protected by minerals stayed largely stable, indicating organo-mineral protection buffers subsoil carbon loss.
Joséphine Hazera, David Sebag, Isabelle Kowalewski, Herman Ravelojaona, Eric Verrecchia, Gergely Jakab, Dóra Zacháry, Florian Schneider, Luca Trombino, Raphaël J. Manlay, Julien Fouché, and Tiphaine Chevallier
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-4991, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-4991, 2025
This preprint is open for discussion and under review for Biogeosciences (BG).
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Adjusting Rock-Eval® cycle is needed to avoid the need for post-hoc corrections to estimate soil organic (SOC) and inorganic (SIC) carbon. PYRO520 is a cycle with a pyrolysis ending at 520°C instead of 650°C to avoid SIC decomposition while preserving the SOC characterization during pyrolysis. This cycle corrects the misallocation of the end-of-pyrolysis signals and thus repeatably and accurately estimates SOC and SIC contents without using corrections, while preserving the SOC characterization.
Mike C. Rowley, Jasquelin Pena, Matthew A. Marcus, Rachel Porras, Elaine Pegoraro, Cyrill Zosso, Nicholas O. E. Ofiti, Guido L. B. Wiesenberg, Michael W. I. Schmidt, Margaret S. Torn, and Peter S. Nico
SOIL, 11, 381–388, https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-11-381-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-11-381-2025, 2025
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This study shows that calcium (Ca) preserves soil organic carbon (SOC) in acidic soils, challenging beliefs that their interactions were limited to near-neutral or alkaline soils. Using spectromicroscopy, we found that Ca was co-located with a specific fraction of carbon, rich in aromatic and phenolic groups. This association was disrupted when Ca was removed but was reformed during decomposition with added Ca. Overall, this suggests that Ca amendments could enhance SOC stability.
Alessio Leins, Danaé Bregnard, Andrea Vieth-Hillebrand, Stefanie Poetz, Florian Eichinger, Guillaume Cailleau, Pilar Junier, and Simona Regenspurg
Biogeosciences, 21, 5457–5479, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-21-5457-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-21-5457-2024, 2024
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Organic matter and microbial fluid analysis are rarely considered in the geothermal industry and research. However, they can have a significant impact on the efficiency of geothermal energy production. We found a high diversity of organic compound compositions in our samples and were able to differentiate them with respect to different sources (e.g. artificial and biogenic). Furthermore, the microbial diversity undergoes significant changes within the flow path of a geothermal power plant.
Pauline Rivoire, Sonia Dupuis, Antoine Guisan, Pascal Vittoz, and Daniela I. V. Domeisen
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-3482, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-3482, 2024
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Our study investigates the conditions in temperature, precipitation, humidity, and soil moisture leading to the browning of the European forests in summer. Using a Random Forest model and satellite measurement of vegetation greenness, we identify key conditions that predict forest damage. We conclude that hot and dry conditions in spring and summer are adverse conditions, in particular for broad-leaved trees. The hydro-meteorological conditions during the preceding year can also have an impact.
Joséphine Hazera, David Sebag, Isabelle Kowalewski, Eric Verrecchia, Herman Ravelojaona, and Tiphaine Chevallier
Biogeosciences, 20, 5229–5242, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-20-5229-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-20-5229-2023, 2023
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This study adapts the Rock-Eval® protocol to quantify soil organic carbon (SOC) and soil inorganic carbon (SIC) on a non-pretreated soil aliquot. The standard protocol properly estimates SOC contents once the TOC parameter is corrected. However, it cannot complete the thermal breakdown of SIC amounts > 4 mg, leading to an underestimation of high SIC contents by the MinC parameter, even after correcting for this. Thus, the final oxidation isotherm is extended to 7 min to quantify any SIC amount.
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Co-editor-in-chief
This study provides the first comprehensive evidence of active oxalate–carbonate pathways (OCPs) in India’s tropical dry evergreen forests, identifying four novel tree–microbe systems that mediate calcium carbonate formation. The findings reveal a previously unrecognized mechanism contributing to coupled organic and inorganic carbon cycling in tropical forest ecosystems of southern India.
This study provides the first comprehensive evidence of active oxalate–carbonate pathways...
Short summary
The oxalate-carbonate pathway, where trees and microbes store inorganic carbon as minerals, was studied on four tree species of the threatened tropical dry evergreen forest Indian forest. We used high-throughput sequencing of a gene to detect oxalate-degrading microbes. For all tree species, produced oxalate led to carbonate formation in soils and on wood. This carbon may be leached into water, suggesting a hidden source of inorganic carbon with implications for climate and conservation.
The oxalate-carbonate pathway, where trees and microbes store inorganic carbon as minerals, was...
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