Atmospheric Partial Pressure Research Articles

Elevated pCO2 may increase the edible safety risk of clams exposed to toxic Alexandrium spp.

Toxic harmful algal blooms (HABs) have received increasing attention owing to their threat to the health of aquatic life and seafood consumers. This study evaluated the impacts of elevated atmospheric partial pressure of CO2 (pCO2) on the production of paralytic shellfish toxins (PSTs) in different Alexandrium spp. strains, together with its further effects on the bioaccumulation/elimination dynamics of PSTs in bivalves contaminated with PSTs from toxic dinoflagellates. Our results showed that elevated pCO2 stimulated the growth of the two Alexandrium spp. (A. catenella and A. pacificum) isolated from the northern and southern coastal areas of China, respectively, and affected PST production including content and toxicity of the two strains differently. Further PSTs bioaccumulation/elimination in PSTs-contaminated Manila clam, Ruditapes philippinarum under high pCO2 also occurred. It is worth noting the biotransformation of neosaxitoxin (NEO) with high toxicity through trophic transfer with effect of elevated pCO2. When in microalgae cultured under the control (410 ppm) and elevated pCO2 conditions (495 and 850 ppm), the proportion of NEO in the PST content produced by A. catenella was reduced from 11.1 to 6.4 and 2.6 %, while the proportion of NEO in A. pacificum was increased from 3.1 to 3.6 and 4.7 %, respectively. NEO accounted for >50 % of total PST contents in clams, which were biotransformed via transfer from dinoflagellates and higher pCO2 enhanced this biotransformation leading to increased NEO accumulation. The negatively affected elimination of PSTs, especially NEO, in clams fed with A. catenella or A. pacificum, indicates that the detoxification of PSTs-contaminated clams may be more difficult under elevated pCO2. This study provides reference for developing models to assess the safety of bivalves under the co-stress of environmental change and toxic HABs, suggesting that ocean acidification may lead to the higher safety risk of Manila clams exposed to toxic HAB dinoflagellates.

Mega El Niño instigated the end-Permian mass extinction.

The ultimate driver of the end-Permian mass extinction is a topic of much debate. Here, we used a multiproxy and paleoclimate modeling approach to establish a unifying theory elucidating the heightened susceptibility of the Pangean world to the prolonged and intensified El Niño events leading to an extinction state. As atmospheric partial pressure of carbon dioxide doubled from about 410 to about 860 ppm (parts per million) in the latest Permian, the meridional overturning circulation collapsed, the Hadley cell contracted, and El Niños intensified. The resultant deforestation, reef demise, and plankton crisis marked the start of a cascading environmental disaster. Reduced carbon sequestration initiated positive feedback, producing a warmer hothouse and, consequently, stronger El Niños. The compounding effects of elevated climate variability and mean state warming led to catastrophic but diachronous terrestrial and marine losses.

Unidirectional ice-templating for aerogel adsorbents: Excellent pore structure and high CO2 capture performance for direct air capture

The ultralow atmospheric partial pressure of CO2 (∼40 Pa) presents a significant challenge for direct air capture (DAC). In this study, high-performance porous aerogel adsorbents are prepared using the unidirectional freezing–ice-templating method. The dispersion of the mixed solution is effectively improved by particle size modulation, and functionalized materials with abundant gas channels are constructed by the rapid cooling of liquid N2. The adsorbents feature a cross-structure comprising monolayer active components and nanoscale layered carriers. The unique micro/mesoporous composite structure of the adsorbents facilitates gas-phase transport. When the functional group efficiency is increased by 5.8 times, the prepared adsorbents demonstrate excellent CO2 capture capacity (1.17 mmol/g and 148 mol/m3) and a low adsorption half-time (1.28 min). The unique cross-structure of the adsorbents renders them hydrophobic; thus, they show higher adsorption capacity at high humidity than other moisture swing adsorbents. At the molecular scale, quantum chemical calculations show that appropriate coordination between the active components and carriers enhance the water vapor hindering ability of the adsorbents. The developed aerogel adsorbents significantly expand the application scenarios for moisture swing adsorbents and enhance the efficiency of DAC.

Role of oxidation in thermal fatigue damage mechanisms and life of X38CrMoV5 (AISI H11) hot work tool steel

Hot work tools steels, which are submitted to severe solicitations in service, are often damaged by thermal fatigue and corrosion. Interrupted Thermal Fatigue experiments were performed on X38CrMoV5 tool steel between 100 and 650 °C, in air and reduced oxygen partial pressure atmospheres after primary or secondary vacuum. A thermal and thermo-mechanical analysis by finite element method was carried out to estimate the strains and stresses undergone by the axisymmetric disc-shaped specimen during thermal cycling. The morphology, structure and phase composition of the oxide layer were analysed using scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction. It was shown that the thickness, homogeneity, structure, and compacity of the oxide multilayer formed on the specimen changed depending on test atmosphere. In air, crack initiation and propagation were strongly assisted by oxidation, leading to reduced fatigue life compared to inert atmospheres. Steel softening was highlighted in sub-surface, whatever the test atmosphere.

Girvanella fossils from the Phanerozoic: Distribution, evolution and controlling factors

Girvanella is one of the common genera of cyanobacteria that plays a monumental role in the evolution of life on Earth and the formation of microbialites. Based on a detailed search in the literature of Girvanella fossils, we have compiled a global database of Girvanella fossils and revealed the evolution of Girvanella fossils throughout the Phanerozoic. Four species, Girvanella kasakiensis, Girvanella problematica, Girvanella wetheredii, and Girvanella staminea, are recognized and described. These data show that Girvanella fossils have well-defined temporal distribution during the Paleozoic Era, have a significant temporal gap in the Mesozoic Era, and have only been recorded sporadically in the Cenozoic Era. They were relatively abundant during the Cambrian Epoch 2–Early Ordovician, Late Ordovician, Late Devonian–Mississippian, and tended to lesser degrees during the Silurian–Early Devonian, Lopingian Epoch–Middle Jurassic, and Cretaceous–Present day. Furthermore, the evolution of the abundance and diversity of Girvanella fossils was fundamentally consistent and showed episodical declining during the Phanerozoic. To further explore these relationships, we thoroughly compared them with environmental factors such as seawater carbonate saturation state, Ca2+ concentration, pH values, and atmospheric partial pressure of carbon dioxide (pCO2). This study indicates that seawater carbonate saturation state and Ca2+ concentration are major controls on secular patterns of the abundance and diversity of Girvanella fossils, together with the secondary factors of pH values and pCO2. Considering the long history of Girvanella fossils, their abundance and diversity offer the potential to assist the interpretation of the long-term evolution of marine and atmosphere components during the Phanerozoic.

Carbon Cycle Instability for High-CO2 Exoplanets: Implications for Habitability

Implicit in the definition of the classical circumstellar habitable zone (HZ) is the hypothesis that the carbonate-silicate cycle can maintain clement climates on exoplanets with land and surface water across a range of instellations by adjusting atmospheric CO2 partial pressure (pCO2). This hypothesis is made by analogy to the Earth system, but it is an open question whether silicate weathering can stabilize climate on planets in the outer reaches of the HZ, where instellations are lower than those received by even the Archean Earth and CO2 is thought likely to dominate atmospheres. Since weathering products are carried from land to ocean by the action of water, silicate weathering is intimately coupled to the hydrologic cycle, which intensifies with hotter temperatures under Earth-like conditions. Here, we use global climate model simulations to demonstrate that the hydrologic cycle responds counterintuitively to changes in climate on planets with CO2-H2O atmospheres at low instellations and high pCO2, with global evaporation and precipitation decreasing as pCO2 and temperatures increase at a given instellation. Within the Maher & Chamberlain (or MAC) weathering formulation, weathering then decreases with increasing pCO2 for a range of instellations and pCO2 typical of the outer reaches of the HZ, resulting in an unstable carbon cycle that may lead to either runaway CO2 accumulation or depletion of CO2 to colder (possibly snowball) conditions. While the behavior of the system has not been completely mapped out, the results suggest that silicate weathering could fail to maintain habitable conditions in the outer reaches of the nominal HZ.

Controls of Atmospheric Methane on Early Earth and Inhabited Earth-like Terrestrial Exoplanets

Methane (CH4) is a primarily biogenic greenhouse gas. As such, it represents an essential biosignature to search for life on exoplanets. Atmospheric CH4 abundance on Earth-like inhabited exoplanets is likely controlled by marine biogenic production and atmospheric photochemical consumption. Such interactions have been previously examined for the case of the early Earth where primitive marine ecosystems supplied CH4 to the atmosphere, showing that the atmospheric CH4 response to biogenic CH4 flux variations is nonlinear, a critical property when assessing CH4 reliability as a biosignature. However, the contributions of atmospheric photochemistry, metabolic reactions, or solar irradiance to this nonlinear response are not well understood. Using an atmospheric photochemical model and a marine microbial ecosystem model, we show that the production of hydroxyl radicals from water vapor photodissociation is a critical factor controlling the atmospheric CH4 abundance. Consequently, atmospheric CH4 partial pressure (pCH4) on inhabited Earth-like exoplanets orbiting Sun-like stars (F-, G-, and K-type stars) would be controlled primarily by stellar irradiance. Specifically, irradiance at wavelengths of approximately 200–210 nm is a major controlling factor for atmospheric pCH4 when the carbon dioxide partial pressure is sufficiently high to absorb most stellar irradiance at 170–200 nm. Finally, we also demonstrated that inhabited exoplanets orbiting near the outer edge of K-type stars’ habitable zones are better suited for atmospheric pCH4 buildup. Such properties will provide valuable support for future detection of life signatures.

Redox Stability and Electrical Properties of a Series of Novel Quadruple Dopant BIMEVOX: Bi2V1−4x(CuNiNbTi)xO5.5−δ

Bi2VO5.5‐based materials are well‐known oxide ion conductors owing to their exceptionally high ionic conductivity. However, their poor phase and redox stabilities under a reducing atmosphere hinder their practical application as electrolytes for solid oxide fuel cells. Here, a series of novel quadruple metal‐doped bismuth vanadium system materials Bi2V1−4x(CuNiNbTi)xO5.5−δ (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.1) are prepared through a traditional solid state reaction method, aiming to enhance the phase and redox stability under reducing atmosphere. The results reveal that multiple‐metal‐doping can stabilize the tetragonal phase of Bi2VO5.5 to room temperature and show good phase and structural stabilities under inert or high oxygen partial pressure atmospheres, as well as pure oxide ion conduction which is slightly lower than that of the parent material. However, under a reducing environment, the Bi2V1−4x(CuNiNbTi)xO5.5−δ materials would still undergo a phase decomposition, yielding elemental bismuth impurity, and introducing strong electronic conduction. Thus, how to improve the phase and redox stabilities under the reducing atmosphere of the Bi2VO5.5‐based materials is still the endeavor direction in the future.

Impact of high-altitude acclimatization and de-acclimatization on the intestinal microbiota of rats in a natural high-altitude environment.

Intestinal microorganisms play an important role in the health of both humans and animals, with their composition being influenced by changes in the host's environment. We evaluated the longitudinal changes in the fecal microbial community of rats at different altitudes across various time points. Rats were airlifted to high altitude (3,650 m) and acclimatized for 42 days (HAC), before being by airlifted back to low altitude (500 m) and de-acclimatized for 28 days (HADA); meanwhile, the control group included rats living at low altitude (500 m; LA). We investigated changes in the gut microbiota at 12 time points during high-altitude acclimatization and de-acclimatization, employing 16S rRNA gene sequencing technology alongside physiological indices, such as weight and daily autonomous activity time. A significant increase in the Chao1 index was observed on day 14 in the HAC and HADA groups compared to that in the LA group, indicating clear differences in species richness. Moreover, the principal coordinate analysis revealed that the bacterial community structures of HAC and HADA differed from those in LA. Long-term high-altitude acclimatization and de- acclimatization resulted in the reduced abundance of the probiotic Lactobacillus. Altitude and age significantly influenced intestinal microbiota composition, with changes in ambient oxygen content and atmospheric partial pressure being considered key causal factors of altitude-dependent alterations in microbiota composition. High-altitude may be linked to an increase in anaerobic bacterial abundance and a decrease in non-anaerobic bacterial abundance. In this study, the hypobaric hypoxic conditions at high-altitude increased the abundance of anaerobes, while reducing the abundance of probiotics; these changes in bacterial community structure may, ultimately, affect host health. Overall, gaining a comprehensive understanding of the intestinal microbiota alterations during high-altitude acclimatization and de-acclimatization is essential for the development of effective prevention and treatment strategies to better protect the health of individuals traveling between high- and low-altitude areas.

Phases, stabilities, and oxide ion conductions of multiple lanthanide and tungsten co–doped δ-Bi2O3-based materials: From low to high configuration entropy

In this work, a series of multiple lanthanide and tungsten co-doped fluorite structured (Bi2O3)0.95-x(Ho0.4Er0.4Tm0.4Yb0.4Lu0.4O3)x(WO3)0.05 (x = 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4) and (Bi2O3)0.26(Ho0.5Er0.5Tm0.5Yb0.5O3)0.48(WO3)0.26 materials were prepared by traditional solid-state reaction method. The phases, stabilities, and electrical properties of these materials were thoroughly studied. The results revealed that under high oxygen partial pressure, CO2, or inert atmospheres, all these samples had excellent long term thermal stability and chemical stability, and the samples of (Bi2O3)0.95-x(Ho0.4Er0.4Tm0.4Yb0.4Lu0.4O3)x(WO3)0.05 (x = 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4) with low or mediate configuration entropies showed pure and high oxide ion conductivities, e.g. ∼2.6 × 10−2 S/cm at 600 °C for the sample x = 0.2. Whereas, for the (Bi2O3)0.26(Ho0.5Er0.5Tm0.5Yb0.5O3)0.48(WO3)0.26 sample with high configuration entropy, pure ionic conduction occurred only within a narrow temperature range (700−750 °C) under the N2 atmosphere. Under strong reducing condition, only the high-entropy sample (Bi2O3)0.26(Ho0.5Er0.5Tm0.5Yb0.5O3)0.48(WO3)0.26 showed high phase and chemical stabilities, but would introduce strong electronic conduction rise from the reduction of the high content W6+. While for (Bi2O3)0.95-x(Ho0.4Er0.4Tm0.4Yb0.4Lu0.4O3)x(WO3)0.05 with low or mediate configuration, phase decompositions with impurities of Bi metal and HoH2 were observed under strong reducing atmosphere, accompany with obviously decreased conductivities. Therefore, we provided here a comprehensive understanding for the multiple components doped Bi2O3-based materials with configuration entropy from low to high on their phases, stabilities, and electrical properties, and suggested a new strategy for designing and stabilizing bismuth-oxide-based materials.

Acidificação oceânica: uma questão negligenciada

Oceans play a crucial role in many natural processes, such as oxygen production and climate regulation. Ocean acidification (OA) is a phenomenon caused, among other factors, by the dissolution of certain gases in water, such as carbon dioxide (CO2). It is estimated that by 2100, the partial atmospheric pressure of carbon dioxide (pCO2) will double from pre-industrial levels, aggravating this process. The negative consequences of OA are not yet fully understood, in part due to the limitations of laboratory experiments. However, it is known that they include increased concentrations of CO2 in the atmosphere, structural and functional modifications of ecosystems, changes in richness, diversity and geographic distribution of species, impairment of ecosystem goods and services, and commercial activities, such as fishing and aquaculture, as well as global warming. OA, in principle, is considered irreversible, as it depends on the reduction of emissions of the gases involved in the process, especially CO2, and the slow natural process of neutralization. However, some mitigation measures, allied with adaptation measures, can mitigate the effects of OA. These and other issues related to ocean vulnerability caused by climate change will be raised in this review.

Carbon dioxide uptake in a eutrophic stratified reservoir: Freshwater carbon sequestration potential

Carbon capture and storage due to photosynthesis activities has been proposed as a carbon sink to mitigate climate change. To enhance such mitigation, previous studies have shown that freshwater lakes should be included in the carbon sink, since they may capture as much carbon as coastal areas. In eutrophic freshwater lakes, there is uncertainty about whether the equilibrium equation can estimate the partial pressure of carbon dioxide (pCO2), owing to the presence of photosynthesis due to phytoplankton, and pH measurement error in freshwater fluid. Thus, this study investigated the applicability of the equilibrium equation and revealed the need to modify it. The modified equilibrium equation was successfully applied to reproduce pCO2 based on total alkalinity and pH through field observations. In addition, pCO2 at the water surface was lower than the atmospheric partial pressure of carbon dioxide due to photosynthesis by phytoplankton during strong stratification. The stratification effect on low pCO2 was verified by using the Net Ecosystem Production (NEP) model, and a submerged freshwater plants such as Potamogeton malaianus were found to have high potential for dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) sequestration in a freshwater lake. These results should provide a starting point toward more sophisticated methods to investigate the effect of freshwater carbon on DIC uptake in freshwater stratified eutrophic lakes.

The combined effect of pH and dissolved inorganic carbon concentrations on the physiology of plastidic ciliate Mesodinium rubrum and its cryptophyte prey

Ocean acidification is caused by rising atmospheric partial pressure of CO2 (pCO2) and involves a lowering of pH combined with increased concentrations of CO2 and dissolved in organic carbon in ocean waters. Many studies investigated the consequences of these combined changes on marine phytoplankton, yet only few attempted to separate the effects of decreased pH and increased pCO2. Moreover, studies typically target photoautotrophic phytoplankton, while little is known of plastidic protists that depend on the ingestion of plastids from their prey. Therefore, we studied the separate and interactive effects of pH and DIC levels on the plastidic ciliate Mesodinium rubrum, which is known to form red tides in coastal waters worldwide. Also, we tested the effects on their prey, which typically are cryptophytes belonging to the Teleaulax/Plagioslemis/Geminigera species complex. These cryptophytes not only serve as food for the ciliate, but also as a supplier of chloroplasts and prey nuclei. We exposed M. rubrum and the two cryptophyte species, T. acuta, T. amphioxeia to different pH (6.8 - 8) and DIC levels (∼ 6.5 - 26 mg C L-1) and assessed their growth and photosynthetic rates, and cellular chlorophyll a and elemental contents. Our findings did not show consistent significant effects across the ranges in pH and/or DIC, except for M. rubrum, for which growth was negatively affected only by the lowest pH of 6.8 combined with lower DIC concentrations. It thus seems that M. rubrum is largely resilient to changes in pH and DIC, and its blooms may not be strongly impacted by the changes in ocean carbonate chemistry projected for the end of the 21st century.

Hydrogen trapping of carbides during high temperature gaseous hydrogenation

This study evaluates the hydrogen absorption and trapping in carbide containing steels from a very low hydrogen partial pressure atmosphere at elevated temperatures. Two generic titanium-containing Fe–C steels, differing in carbon and titanium content, are studied. The steels are subjected to a quench and temper treatment, where tempering is performed in a dilute hydrogen gas atmosphere. Detailed microstructural analysis via SEM and TEM together with characterization via thermal desorption spectroscopy and hot extraction are performed to analyze the hydrogen trapping ability of the different types of carbides.A significant amount of hydrogen is introduced in the Fe–C–Ti alloys during tempering. Moreover, the hydrogen appears to be strongly trapped. This could be related to trapping at the carbon-vacancies inside the TiC, and more specifically the large undissolved carbides. The binding energy is estimated to range between 80 kJ/mol and 90 kJ/mol and appears to be independent of the undissolved carbide size.

Effect of Nitrogen Partial Pressure on Structure, Mechanical Property, and Corrosion Behavior of ZrNx Films Prepared by Reactive DC Magnetron Sputtering.

ZrNx films were deposited by DC magnetron sputtering with pure Zr target in different nitrogen partial pressure atmospheres (r = N2/[Ar + N2]). The structure and composition of the thin films were characterized as a function of r using scanning electron microscope, glancing angle X-ray diffraction, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The hardness, adhesive strength, and corrosion behavior of the coatings were measured by nanoindentation, microscratch, and potentiodynamic measurements in 3.5 wt% NaCl solution. The results show that the structure of the ZrNx films changes from a nearly stoichiometric ZrN with a typical columnar structure to mixed phases composited of ZrN and α-ZrNx with a dense glass structure as r increases from 12% to 50%. The mechanical properties including hardness, elastic modulus, and adhesion decrease with increasing r due to nonstoichiometric compound and glass phase structure of the coatings, while the dense glass structure significantly improves the corrosion inhibition.

Carbon Dioxide in Soil, Ground and Surface Waters of the Northern Regions: Role, Sources, Test Methods (a Review)

Modern research proves the need to include waterbodies in regional and global models of carbon exchange. The concentration of carbon dioxide in surface waters is generally higher than equilibrium with a partial atmospheric pressure of 400 µatm allows. The study of the functioning and regional role of aquatic systems, especially regard to inorganic carbon dynamics, is insufficient, especially in circumboreal regions. The review highlights the theoretical foundations and relevance of studies of dissolved carbon dioxide; methodological approaches in assessing this indicator, as well as the role of dissolved CO2 in natural waters of boreal and arctic regions. Soil organic matter and dissolved carbon dioxide are the main sources of CO2 in surface waters, but this contribution has not yet been quantified. This is due to the underestimation of the abiotic aspects of soil gas exchange, the absolute predominance of studies of gas exchange at the soil-atmosphere interface without taking into account the interaction with groundwater, as well as methodological difficulties in measuring gas concentrations in soil-ground and surface waters. Instrumental measurement methods are not standardized, and the calculated ones have very high systematic and analytical errors. The conclusion points to the need to study the hydrological continuum: from source (terrestrial ecosystems) to large rivers and lakes, with particular attention to the incorporation of CO2 from groundwater into the carbon budget of the entire watershed.

Securing energy while mitigating climate change

Mainstream energy policy emphasizes the exploitation of domestic sources to secure energy. Since readily available, many nations focus on fossil fuels, so they lack investment in the alternatives. The result is increasing atmospheric partial pressure of carbon dioxide, and energy security is still an issue. This study analyzes the impact of different variables on securing energy and reducing carbon emissions and attains this aim by econometrics. Energy-related data for 47 countries have been compiled from the IEA webpage, WDI, and BP databases, covering the period between 1990 and 2017. The results indicate that electricity generation by solar and wind globally helps both securing energy and climate change mitigation as anticipated. The dataset confirms that coal- and gas-based power generation does not contribute to global energy security. The dataset does not cast any distinct role on energy efficiency in terms of energy intensity. Increasing energy intensity, i.e., decreasing energy efficiency releases more carbon as anticipated. However, increasing energy intensity, i.e., decreasing energy efficiency, contributes to the energy security of the countries with wind power in the energy mix. One interesting result is that having a large population promotes energy security, but increasing urban population brings risks.

Records of chemical weathering and volcanism linked to paleoclimate transition during the Late Paleozoic Icehouse

The late Paleozoic ice age (LPIA) was the longest-lived glaciation of the Phanerozoic, and the demise of LPIA is the Earth's only recorded transition from an icehouse to a greenhouse state. In order to explore the records of chemical weathering and volcanism linked to paleoclimate, an integrated multi-proxy study from the Pennsylvanian to the earliest Cisuralian in the Western Shandong from the North China Craton (NCC) was conducted, including results of chemical weathering induces (CIA, CIW, PIA, WIP, CIX, and τ Na ), element indicators (Sr/Ba, Sr/Cu, and Rb/Sr), Hg concentration, total organic carbon (TOC), and organic carbon isotope (δ 13 C org ). The chemical weathering indies show a peak of chemical weathering intensity during the early Asselian (∼298 Ma), indicating a warming event occurred at that time. Hg/TOC shows one obvious peak of volcanic intensity, corresponding with the rapid increase of chemical weathering. Moreover, the peak in volcanic intensity coincides with negative excursions of δ 13 C org , hinting at volcanic drivers for the perturbations of carbon isotope and the change of paleoclimate. This phenomenon coincides with the change of conodont oxygen isotope (δ 18 O), a shift in atmospheric partial pressure of CO 2 ( p CO 2 ), sea-level variation, and late Paleozoic deglaciation records that together document the earliest Permian climate warming-cooling perturbation with a temperature maximum. We suggest that the climate warming in the early Asselian may be driven by volcanism through released greenhouse gas. Our result provides an important contribution to enabling the correlation of volcanic and climatic events during glacial and interglacial cycles. • Permo-Carboniferous weathering trends are reconstructed in North China Craton. • An obvious global warming event is verified at the Permo-Carboniferous transition. • Volcanic activity was a critical driver of climate warming in the early Asselian.

The differential ability of two species of seagrass to use carbon dioxide and bicarbonate and their modelled response to rising concentrations of inorganic carbon.

Seagrass meadows are one of the most productive ecosystems on the planet, but their photosynthesis rate may be limited by carbon dioxide but mitigated by exploiting the high concentration of bicarbonate in the ocean using different active processes. Seagrasses are declining worldwide at an accelerating rate because of numerous anthropogenic pressures. However, rising ocean concentrations of dissolved inorganic carbon, caused by increases in atmospheric carbon dioxide, may benefit seagrass photosynthesis. Here we compare the ability of two seagrass from the Mediterranean Sea, Posidonia oceanica (L.) Delile and Zostera marina L., to use carbon dioxide and bicarbonate at light saturation, and model how increasing concentrations of inorganic carbon affect their photosynthesis rate. pH-drift measurements confirmed that both species were able to use bicarbonate in addition to carbon dioxide, but that Z. marina was more effective than P. oceanica. Kinetic experiments showed that, compared to Z. marina, P. oceanica had a seven-fold higher affinity for carbon dioxide and a 1.6-fold higher affinity for bicarbonate. However, the maximal rate of bicarbonate uptake in Z. marina was 2.1-fold higher than in P. oceanica. In equilibrium with 410 ppm carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, the modelled rates of photosynthesis by Z. marina were slightly higher than P. oceanica, less carbon limited and depended on bicarbonate to a greater extent. This greater reliance by Z. marina is consistent with its less depleted 13C content compared to P. oceanica. Modelled photosynthesis suggests that both species would depend on bicarbonate alone at an atmospheric carbon dioxide partial pressure of 280 ppm. P. oceanica was projected to benefit more than Z. marina with increasing atmospheric carbon dioxide partial pressures, and at the highest carbon dioxide scenario of 1135 ppm, would have higher rates of photosynthesis and be more saturated by inorganic carbon than Z. marina. In both species, the proportional reliance on bicarbonate declined markedly as carbon dioxide concentrations increased and in P. oceanica carbon dioxide would become the major source of inorganic carbon.

Soil organic carbon storages and bacterial communities along a restored mangrove soil chronosequence in the Jiulong River Estuary: From tidal flats to mangrove afforestation

Among many ecological services provided by mangrove ecosystems, soil organic carbon (SOC) storages have recently received much attention owing to the increasing atmospheric partial pressure of dissolved CO2 (pCO2). Bacteria are fundamental to ecosystem functions and strongly influence the coupling of coastal carbon, nitrogen, and sulfur cycling in soils. The SOC storage and bacterial communities along a restored mangrove soil chronosequence in the Jiulong River Estuary were explored using the 16S rDNA sequencing technique. The results showed the SOC storage in the 100 cm soil profile was 103.31±5.87 kg C m−2 and 93.10±11.28 kg C m−2 for mangroves with afforestation ages of 36 and 60 years, respectively. The total nitrogen (TN) and total sulfur (TS) contents exhibited significant correlations with the SOC in the mangrove soils, but only TN and SOC showed significant correlation in tidal flat soils. Although the tidal flats and mangroves occupied the contiguous intertidal zone within several kilometers, the variations in the SOC storage along the restored mangrove soil chronosequence were notably higher. The Functional Annotation of Prokaryotic Taxa (FAPROTAX) database was used to annotate the metabolic functions of the bacteria in the soils. The annotation revealed that only four metabolic functions were enriched with a higher relative abundance of the corresponding bacteria, and these enriched functions were largely associated with sulfate reduction. In addition, the specifically critical bacterial taxa that were associated with the SOC accumulation and nutrient cycling, shaped the distinct metabolic functions, and consequently facilitated the SOC accumulation in the mangrove soils with various afforestation ages. The general homogenization of the microbial community and composition along the intertidal soil chronosequence was primarily driven by the reciprocating tidal flows and geographical contiguity.