High bioavailability of soil-derived dissolved organic carbon in the high Arctic fjord (Kongsfjorden, Svalbard Archipelago)

To assess the bioavailability in the soil-derived dissolved organic carbon (DOC), and to estimate potential remineralization kinetics for different bioavailable fractions of DOC, the long-lasting (180 days) incubation experiments of soil leachates were performed. The soil material was collected from...

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Main Authors: Katarzyna Koziorowska, Przemysław Makuch, Fernando Aguado Gonzalo, Karol Kuliński
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-06-01
Series:Frontiers in Earth Science
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/feart.2025.1456404/full
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author Katarzyna Koziorowska
Przemysław Makuch
Fernando Aguado Gonzalo
Karol Kuliński
author_facet Katarzyna Koziorowska
Przemysław Makuch
Fernando Aguado Gonzalo
Karol Kuliński
author_sort Katarzyna Koziorowska
collection DOAJ
description To assess the bioavailability in the soil-derived dissolved organic carbon (DOC), and to estimate potential remineralization kinetics for different bioavailable fractions of DOC, the long-lasting (180 days) incubation experiments of soil leachates were performed. The soil material was collected from the catchments of two contrasting rivers - Bayelva and Londonelva in Kongsfjorden (Arctic fjord in West Spitsbergen, Svalbard Archipelago). Both sampling sites were located close to the shore, where coastal erosion and tides directly affect the surface soil layer. The results indicate that the soil leachates contain a lot of DOC, which is highly bioavailable, even 68%–87% can be susceptible to biodegradation. The obtained decay curves allowed us to distinguish three DOC fractions: labile, semi-labile, and refractory. The contribution of the most labile DOC fraction is small and ranges from 13% in the Bayelva region to 25% in the Londonelva catchment but it remineralizes quickly once transported to the fjord, while the semi-labile DOC, whose half-life is measured in months, is much more abundant (74% and 43% of total DOC, respectively). These differences in the contribution of particular DOC fractions between stations can result from the different composition and provenance of organic matter. Nevertheless, this high lability of terrestrial DOC indicates that its supply to the fjords water column has the potential to play an essential role in sustaining the bacterial loop in the fjord and, through CO2 release, in amplifying ocean acidification in the coastal zone.
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spelling doaj-art-81dd079d18ac4b39ab90ae9fc0fd6e062025-08-20T02:36:19ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Earth Science2296-64632025-06-011310.3389/feart.2025.14564041456404High bioavailability of soil-derived dissolved organic carbon in the high Arctic fjord (Kongsfjorden, Svalbard Archipelago)Katarzyna Koziorowska0Przemysław Makuch1Fernando Aguado Gonzalo2Karol Kuliński3Department of Marine Chemistry and Biochemistry, Institute of Oceanology of the Polish Academy of Sciences, Sopot, PolandDepartment of Physical Oceanography, Institute of Oceanology of the Polish Academy of Sciences, Sopot, PolandDepartment of Marine Chemistry and Biochemistry, Institute of Oceanology of the Polish Academy of Sciences, Sopot, PolandDepartment of Marine Chemistry and Biochemistry, Institute of Oceanology of the Polish Academy of Sciences, Sopot, PolandTo assess the bioavailability in the soil-derived dissolved organic carbon (DOC), and to estimate potential remineralization kinetics for different bioavailable fractions of DOC, the long-lasting (180 days) incubation experiments of soil leachates were performed. The soil material was collected from the catchments of two contrasting rivers - Bayelva and Londonelva in Kongsfjorden (Arctic fjord in West Spitsbergen, Svalbard Archipelago). Both sampling sites were located close to the shore, where coastal erosion and tides directly affect the surface soil layer. The results indicate that the soil leachates contain a lot of DOC, which is highly bioavailable, even 68%–87% can be susceptible to biodegradation. The obtained decay curves allowed us to distinguish three DOC fractions: labile, semi-labile, and refractory. The contribution of the most labile DOC fraction is small and ranges from 13% in the Bayelva region to 25% in the Londonelva catchment but it remineralizes quickly once transported to the fjord, while the semi-labile DOC, whose half-life is measured in months, is much more abundant (74% and 43% of total DOC, respectively). These differences in the contribution of particular DOC fractions between stations can result from the different composition and provenance of organic matter. Nevertheless, this high lability of terrestrial DOC indicates that its supply to the fjords water column has the potential to play an essential role in sustaining the bacterial loop in the fjord and, through CO2 release, in amplifying ocean acidification in the coastal zone.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/feart.2025.1456404/fullDOC (dissolved organic carbon)remineralizationlabilitybiodegradationSpitsbergen (Svalbard)
spellingShingle Katarzyna Koziorowska
Przemysław Makuch
Fernando Aguado Gonzalo
Karol Kuliński
High bioavailability of soil-derived dissolved organic carbon in the high Arctic fjord (Kongsfjorden, Svalbard Archipelago)
Frontiers in Earth Science
DOC (dissolved organic carbon)
remineralization
lability
biodegradation
Spitsbergen (Svalbard)
title High bioavailability of soil-derived dissolved organic carbon in the high Arctic fjord (Kongsfjorden, Svalbard Archipelago)
title_full High bioavailability of soil-derived dissolved organic carbon in the high Arctic fjord (Kongsfjorden, Svalbard Archipelago)
title_fullStr High bioavailability of soil-derived dissolved organic carbon in the high Arctic fjord (Kongsfjorden, Svalbard Archipelago)
title_full_unstemmed High bioavailability of soil-derived dissolved organic carbon in the high Arctic fjord (Kongsfjorden, Svalbard Archipelago)
title_short High bioavailability of soil-derived dissolved organic carbon in the high Arctic fjord (Kongsfjorden, Svalbard Archipelago)
title_sort high bioavailability of soil derived dissolved organic carbon in the high arctic fjord kongsfjorden svalbard archipelago
topic DOC (dissolved organic carbon)
remineralization
lability
biodegradation
Spitsbergen (Svalbard)
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/feart.2025.1456404/full
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