Iron-oxidizing microorganisms affect the iron-bound organic carbon in the subsoil of alpine grassland during the thawing of seasonal frozen soil

Iron (Fe) minerals possess a huge specific surface area and high adsorption affinity, usually considered as “rust tanks” of organic carbon (OC), playing an important role in global carbon storage. Microorganisms can change the chemical form of Fe by producing Fe-chelating agents such as side chains...

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Main Authors: Yuxin Tian, Maidinuer Abulaizi, Zailei Yang, Tianle Kou, Yuanbin Jia, Yunpeng Hu, Mo Chen, Hongtao Jia
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-01-01
Series:Frontiers in Microbiology
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2024.1523084/full
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author Yuxin Tian
Maidinuer Abulaizi
Zailei Yang
Tianle Kou
Yuanbin Jia
Yunpeng Hu
Mo Chen
Mo Chen
Mo Chen
Hongtao Jia
Hongtao Jia
Hongtao Jia
author_facet Yuxin Tian
Maidinuer Abulaizi
Zailei Yang
Tianle Kou
Yuanbin Jia
Yunpeng Hu
Mo Chen
Mo Chen
Mo Chen
Hongtao Jia
Hongtao Jia
Hongtao Jia
author_sort Yuxin Tian
collection DOAJ
description Iron (Fe) minerals possess a huge specific surface area and high adsorption affinity, usually considered as “rust tanks” of organic carbon (OC), playing an important role in global carbon storage. Microorganisms can change the chemical form of Fe by producing Fe-chelating agents such as side chains and form a stable complex with Fe(III), which makes it easier for microorganisms to use. However, in seasonal frozen soil thawing, the succession of soil Fe-cycling microbial communities and their coupling relationship with Fe oxides and Fe-bound organic carbon (Fe-OC) remains unclear. We characterized changes in the Fe phase, Fe-OC, Fe-oxidizing bacteria (FeOB), and Fe-reducing bacteria (FeRB) in the subsoil and analyzed the microbial mechanism underlying Fe-OC changes in alpine grassland by constructing a composite structural equation model (SEM). We found that the Fe(III) content consistently exceeded that of Fe(II). Among the three types of Fe oxides, organically complex Fe (Fep) decreased from 2.54 to 2.30 g·kg−1, whereas the opposite trend was observed for poorly crystalline Fe (Feo). The Fe-OC content also decreased (from 10.31 to 9.47 g·kg−1; p < 0.05). Fe-cycling microorganisms were markedly affected by the thawing of frozen soil (except FeRB). Fep and Feo directly affected changes in Fe-OC. Soil moisture (SM) and FeOB were significant indirect factors affecting Fe-OC changes. Freeze–thaw changes in the subsoil of alpine grassland in Central Asia significantly affected FeOB and Fe oxides, thus affecting the Fe-OC content. To the best of our knowledge, this was the first study to examine the influence of Fe-cycling microorganisms on the Fe phase and Fe-OC in the soil of alpine grassland in Central Asia. Overall, our findings provide scientific clues for exploring the biogeochemical cycle process in future climate change.
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issn 1664-302X
language English
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publisher Frontiers Media S.A.
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series Frontiers in Microbiology
spelling doaj-art-036f581c22ba4b5997513e379c9cb53a2025-01-06T06:59:21ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Microbiology1664-302X2025-01-011510.3389/fmicb.2024.15230841523084Iron-oxidizing microorganisms affect the iron-bound organic carbon in the subsoil of alpine grassland during the thawing of seasonal frozen soilYuxin Tian0Maidinuer Abulaizi1Zailei Yang2Tianle Kou3Yuanbin Jia4Yunpeng Hu5Mo Chen6Mo Chen7Mo Chen8Hongtao Jia9Hongtao Jia10Hongtao Jia11College of Grassland Science, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi, ChinaCollege of Grassland Science, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi, ChinaCollege of Resources and Environment, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi, ChinaCollege of Resources and Environment, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi, ChinaCollege of Resources and Environment, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi, ChinaCollege of Resources and Environment, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi, ChinaCollege of Grassland Science, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi, ChinaCollege of Resources and Environment, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi, ChinaXinjiang Key Laboratory of Soil and Plant Ecological Processes, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi, ChinaCollege of Grassland Science, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi, ChinaCollege of Resources and Environment, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi, ChinaXinjiang Key Laboratory of Soil and Plant Ecological Processes, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi, ChinaIron (Fe) minerals possess a huge specific surface area and high adsorption affinity, usually considered as “rust tanks” of organic carbon (OC), playing an important role in global carbon storage. Microorganisms can change the chemical form of Fe by producing Fe-chelating agents such as side chains and form a stable complex with Fe(III), which makes it easier for microorganisms to use. However, in seasonal frozen soil thawing, the succession of soil Fe-cycling microbial communities and their coupling relationship with Fe oxides and Fe-bound organic carbon (Fe-OC) remains unclear. We characterized changes in the Fe phase, Fe-OC, Fe-oxidizing bacteria (FeOB), and Fe-reducing bacteria (FeRB) in the subsoil and analyzed the microbial mechanism underlying Fe-OC changes in alpine grassland by constructing a composite structural equation model (SEM). We found that the Fe(III) content consistently exceeded that of Fe(II). Among the three types of Fe oxides, organically complex Fe (Fep) decreased from 2.54 to 2.30 g·kg−1, whereas the opposite trend was observed for poorly crystalline Fe (Feo). The Fe-OC content also decreased (from 10.31 to 9.47 g·kg−1; p < 0.05). Fe-cycling microorganisms were markedly affected by the thawing of frozen soil (except FeRB). Fep and Feo directly affected changes in Fe-OC. Soil moisture (SM) and FeOB were significant indirect factors affecting Fe-OC changes. Freeze–thaw changes in the subsoil of alpine grassland in Central Asia significantly affected FeOB and Fe oxides, thus affecting the Fe-OC content. To the best of our knowledge, this was the first study to examine the influence of Fe-cycling microorganisms on the Fe phase and Fe-OC in the soil of alpine grassland in Central Asia. Overall, our findings provide scientific clues for exploring the biogeochemical cycle process in future climate change.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2024.1523084/fullalpine grasslandthawing of seasonal frozen soilFe-cycling microorganismsFe-bound organic carbonFe-cycling functional genes
spellingShingle Yuxin Tian
Maidinuer Abulaizi
Zailei Yang
Tianle Kou
Yuanbin Jia
Yunpeng Hu
Mo Chen
Mo Chen
Mo Chen
Hongtao Jia
Hongtao Jia
Hongtao Jia
Iron-oxidizing microorganisms affect the iron-bound organic carbon in the subsoil of alpine grassland during the thawing of seasonal frozen soil
Frontiers in Microbiology
alpine grassland
thawing of seasonal frozen soil
Fe-cycling microorganisms
Fe-bound organic carbon
Fe-cycling functional genes
title Iron-oxidizing microorganisms affect the iron-bound organic carbon in the subsoil of alpine grassland during the thawing of seasonal frozen soil
title_full Iron-oxidizing microorganisms affect the iron-bound organic carbon in the subsoil of alpine grassland during the thawing of seasonal frozen soil
title_fullStr Iron-oxidizing microorganisms affect the iron-bound organic carbon in the subsoil of alpine grassland during the thawing of seasonal frozen soil
title_full_unstemmed Iron-oxidizing microorganisms affect the iron-bound organic carbon in the subsoil of alpine grassland during the thawing of seasonal frozen soil
title_short Iron-oxidizing microorganisms affect the iron-bound organic carbon in the subsoil of alpine grassland during the thawing of seasonal frozen soil
title_sort iron oxidizing microorganisms affect the iron bound organic carbon in the subsoil of alpine grassland during the thawing of seasonal frozen soil
topic alpine grassland
thawing of seasonal frozen soil
Fe-cycling microorganisms
Fe-bound organic carbon
Fe-cycling functional genes
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2024.1523084/full
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