In aquatic ecosystems, the production of nitrous oxide (N2O), an important greenhouse gas, was until recently mostly ascribed to the activity of nitrifiers and denitrifiers. Recent research has revealed that a range of other organisms are also capable of producing N2O, but quantifying their contribution has remained challenging. Plouviez et al. present a novel approach based on the stable nitrogen and oxygen isotope composition of N2O, combined with the intramolecular distribution of 15N ("site preference"). They found that various microalgae grown in darkness present distinct stable isotope patterns, which paves the way for improving our ability to distinguish the contribution of different microbial groups to N2O production in aquatic ecosystems.

This study examines how a major tropical wetland influences carbon exchange with the atmosphere. High-resolution CO₂ flux data from the Pantanal revealed a pattern in net ecosystem exchange that hints at an internal stabilising process in the carbon cycle of these wetlands. The work helps address a major observational gap in one of the most important yet least monitored floodplains. By applying advanced time-series methods to a uniquely detailed dataset, the study offers a framework that can be used widely in climate and ecosystem research. The findings are especially timely and relevant in view of current discussions about global carbon budgets and climate resilience.

This study provides detailed experimental insight into the biomineralization of tridacnid shells, which play an important role in tropical reef ecosystems. By growing calcifying organisms under tightly controlled aquarium conditions, the work reveals key mechanisms governing carbonate skeleton formation that are otherwise difficult to observe. These findings are relevant not only for understanding the biology of photosynthetic calcifiers, but also for paleoclimate and paleoenvironmental reconstructions that rely on biogenic carbonates as archives of past ocean conditions.

The study investigates how long it takes for human-driven trends in the land carbon sink to become distinguishable from natural year-to-year variability, using large ensembles of Earth system model simulations. The authors find that anthropogenic signals emerge relatively quickly for gross carbon fluxes but more slowly for the net land carbon sink—particularly at regional scales—and that future mitigation scenarios delay detection by weakening long-term trends. The study contributes to enhancing our ability to identify human impacts on the land carbon sink and evaluate the effectiveness of climate policies.

This study provides rare, high-resolution insight into how a climatically sensitive upwelling ecosystem responds to recent climate variability, based on an exceptional 18-year marine sediment trap record. By combining wavelet analyses with long-term observations of dinoflagellate cyst export, upwelling winds, and dust input, it reveals distinct temporal phases and demonstrates the ecosystem’s strong sensitivity to climate-driven changes in wind dynamics.