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Mineralogy dictates the initial mechanism of microbial necromass association

July 8, 2019

Soil organic matter (SOM) improves soil fertility and mitigates disturbance related to climate and land use change. Microbial necromass (the accumulated cellular residues of microorganisms) comprises the majority of soil C, yet the formation and persistence of necromass in relation to mineralogy is poorly understood. We tested whether soil minerals had different microbial necromass association mechanisms. Specifically, we tested whether microbial necromass directly sorbed to mineral surfaces or was consumed by live microorganisms prior to mineral association. Applying Raman microspectroscopy with 13C enriched microbial necromass to quantify microbe-mineral interactions, we show that mineralogy alters the initial mechanism of microbial necromass association. In the presence of K-feldspar (lower abiotic C preservation potential), microbial necromass required assimilation by live microorganisms for mineral retention. In contrast, with amorphous aluminum hydroxide (higher abiotic C preservation potential) microbial necromass was retained predominately through abiotic sorption, and was subsequently protected from microbial decomposition. Despite different mechanisms, both minerals retained similar quantities of microbial necromass under biotic conditions. Mineralogy determined not only the quantity of mineral-associated C, but the distinct pathway of microbial necromass association. These findings show the utility of Raman microspectroscopy as a technique to study microbe-mineral interactions, and imply that heterogeneity in mineral-organic interactions could result in gradients of organic matter stability.

Publication Year 2019
Title Mineralogy dictates the initial mechanism of microbial necromass association
DOI 10.1016/j.gca.2019.06.028
Authors Courtney Creamer, Andrea L. Foster, Corey Lawrence, Jack McFarland, Marjorie S. Schulz, Mark Waldrop
Publication Type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Series Title Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta
Index ID 70230153
Record Source USGS Publications Warehouse
USGS Organization Geology, Minerals, Energy, and Geophysics Science Center
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