Long-term stability of marine dissolved organic carbon emerges from a neutral network of compounds and microbes

A. Mentges, C. Feenders, C. Deutsch, B. Blasius, T. Dittmar

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

26 Scopus citations

Abstract

Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) is the main energy source for marine heterotrophic microorganisms, but a small fraction of DOC resists microbial degradation and accumulates in the ocean. The reason behind this recalcitrance is unknown. We test whether the long-term stability of DOC requires the existence of structurally refractory molecules, using a mechanistic model comprising a diverse network of microbe-substrate interactions. Model experiments reproduce three salient observations, even when all DOC compounds are equally degradable: (i) >15% of an initial DOC pulse resists degradation, but is consumed by microbes if concentrated, (ii) the modelled deep-sea DOC reaches stable concentrations of 30–40 mmolC/m3, and (iii) the mean age of deep-sea DOC is several times the age of deep water with a wide range from <100 to >10,000 years. We conclude that while structurally-recalcitrant molecules exist, they are not required in the model to explain either the amount or longevity of DOC.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article number17780
JournalScientific reports
Volume9
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 1 2019
Externally publishedYes

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • General

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