Collaborative Research: Calibration and application of vascular plant and aqueous microbial biomarkers to examine transformations of dissolved organic matter

陆地和海洋储层之间和内部的有机质通量在全球碳循环中起着重要作用。更清楚地了解有机质动力学对于理解温室气体和气候的基本过程和影响至关重要。目前，研究人员有大量的分析方法和工具来研究溶解有机物（DOM）循环，但该领域仍在努力从对来源、过程和命运的定性理解转向定量理解。来自加州大学戴维斯分校、伍兹霍尔海洋研究所和德克萨斯农工大学的研究人员将开发生物标记工具，以促进对加州河流和河口环境中DOM循环的定量理解，特别是针对维管植物和微生物标记。这项研究的结果将允许未来的生物标志物研究定量地解决水生环境中的DOM来源和加工问题，并改善对海洋中陆地DOM命运的有限理解。更广泛的影响：这项研究将为本科生和研究生提供跨学科的科学培训和发展，包括来自代表性不足群体的个人。这项研究的结果将传播给公众、加州的利益相关者和大学生，以教育他们关于碳循环的知识。

Organic matter (OM) fluxes between and within terrestrial and oceanic reservoirs play an important role in the global carbon cycle. A clearer understanding of OM dynamics is critical for understanding fundamental processes and effects on greenhouse gases and climate. At present, researchers have an abundance of analytical methods and tools for investigating dissolved organic matter (DOM) cycling, but the field struggles to move past a qualitative understanding of sources, processing, and fates toward a quantitative understanding. Researchers from University of California-Davis, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute, and Texas A&M University will develop biomarker tools to advance quantitative understanding of DOM cycling in riverine and estuarine environments in California, specifically targeting vascular plant and microbial markers. Results from this study will allow for future biomarker studies to quantitatively address DOM source and processing in aquatic environments and improve the limited understanding of the fate of terrestrial DOM in the ocean.Broader Impacts: This study will provide interdisciplinary scientific training and development for undergraduate and graduate students, including individuals from underrepresented groups. Results from the study will be disseminated to the public, California stakeholders, and college students to educate them about the carbon cycle.