Articles | Volume 23, issue 19
https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-23-6817-2026
https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-23-6817-2026
Research article
 | 
05 Oct 2026
Research article |  | 05 Oct 2026

Modeling microbial regulatory feedback in organic matter decomposition identifies copiotrophic traits as key drivers of positive priming

Firnaaz Ahamed, James C. Stegen, Emily B. Graham, Timothy D. Scheibe, and Hyun-Seob Song

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Cited articles

Abramoff, R. Z., Davidson, E. A., and Finzi, A. C.: A parsimonious modular approach to building a mechanistic belowground carbon and nitrogen model, J. Geophys. Res. Biogeosci., 122, 2418–2434, https://doi.org/10.1002/2017JG003796, 2017. 
Ahamed, F., Song, H., and Ho, Y. K.: Modeling coordinated enzymatic control of saccharification and fermentation by Clostridium thermocellum during consolidated bioprocessing of cellulose, Biotechnol. Bioeng., 118, 1898–1912, https://doi.org/10.1002/bit.27705, 2021. 
Ahamed, F., You, Y., Burgin, A., Stegen, J. C., Scheibe, T. D., and Song, H.: Exploring the determinants of organic matter bioavailability through substrate-explicit thermodynamic modeling, Front. Water, 5, https://doi.org/10.3389/frwa.2023.1169701, 2023. 
Ahamed, F., Stegen, J. C., Graham, E. B., Scheibe, T. D., Forbes, B., and Song, H.-S.: Data and scripts associated with a manuscript modeling microbial regulation of priming effects, River Corridor Hydro-biogeochemistry from Molecular to Multi-Basin Scales SFA, Environmental Systems Science Data Infrastructure for a Virtual Ecosystem (ESS-DIVE) [data set], https://doi.org/10.15485/3029573, 2026. 
Arrieta, J. M., Mayol, E., Hansman, R. L., Herndl, G. J., Dittmar, T., and Duarte, C. M.: Dilution limits dissolved organic carbon utilization in the deep ocean, Science, 348, 331–333, https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1258955, 2015. 
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Short summary
This research examines how labile organic matter influences the breakdown of complex organic matter  (termed priming). Using a new modeling method, the study shows how microbial growth traits and interactions determine whether priming effects are positive or negative. By identifying microbial strategies as critical drivers of decomposition, this work provides a unified framework to improve predictions of nutrient cycling and carbon sequestration across diverse ecosystems.
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