Can we restore Blue Carbon? - Assessing carbon dynamics in restored UK salt marshes through molecular tools

背景：海岸带植被生态系统近年来因其对减缓气候变化的贡献而受到广泛关注。特别是这些所谓的“蓝碳”生态系统的高固碳率。在英国，这些包括盐沼，这可能与未来的碳信用计划非常相关。这使得人们对利用有管理的重新调整（即打开海堤以重新引入潮汐）来恢复盐沼以创造新的碳汇产生了浓厚的兴趣。但是这些恢复的沼泽作为碳汇的功能与天然沼泽一样吗？为了回答这个问题，我们需要了解恢复沼泽中碳动力学和微生物生态学的基本过程，因为微生物分解是碳损失的主要驱动力。研究方法：你将结合联合收割机的方法，从盐沼恢复，土壤地球化学和微生物生态学领域。首先，为了量化碳储量和封存率，您将从英国的多个恢复地点收集土壤核心进行碳分析和测年（使用微体古生物学）。其次，您将使用尖端的分子微生物生态学技术比较天然和恢复沼泽的生物地球化学和微生物生态学。最后，为了确定哪些微生物群负责将有机碳再次积极分解为CO2，您将使用研究地点的土壤和13 C有机碳化合物作为示踪剂进行微观实验室实验。

Background: Coastal vegetated ecosystems have recently received much attention for their contribution to climate change mitigation. Especially the high rates of carbon sequestration have been highlighted for these so-called 'Blue Carbon' ecosystems. In the UK these include salt marshes, which could be very relevant in future carbon crediting schemes. This led to a strong interest in the restoration of salt marshes using managed realignment (i.e. the opening of seawalls to re-introduce tides) to create new carbon sinks.But do these restored marshes function as a carbon sink in the same way as natural marshes? To answer this question, we need to understand the underlying processes in relation to carbon dynamics and microbial ecology in restored marshes, because microbial decomposition is a main driver of carbon loss. Research methodology: You will combine methods from the fields of salt marsh restoration, biogeochemistry, and microbial ecology. First, to quantify carbon stocks and sequestration rates, you will collect soil cores from multiple restoration sites in the UK for carbon analysis and dating (using micropaleontology). Second, you will compare the biogeochemistry and microbial ecology of a natural and restored marsh using cutting edge molecular microbial ecology techniques. Finally, to identify which microbial groups are responsible for actively breaking down organic carbon into CO2 again, you will set up a microcosm lab experiment using soil from the study site and a 13C organic carbon compound as a tracer.