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

有机质在陆地和海洋碳库之间和内部的通量在全球碳循环中起着重要的作用。更清楚地了解有机物动力学对于了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）的循环，但该领域的斗争，以过去的来源，处理和命运的定性理解走向定量的理解。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A M大学的研究人员将开发生物标志物工具，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志物。从这项研究的结果将允许未来的生物标志物的研究，以定量解决DOM的来源和处理在水生环境中，并提高有限的了解陆地DOM的命运在ocean.Broader影响：这项研究将提供跨学科的科学培训和发展的本科生和研究生，包括个人代表性不足的群体。研究结果将分发给公众、加州利益相关者和大学生，教育他们了解碳循环。

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.