Preprints
https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2022-194
https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2022-194
19 May 2022
 | 19 May 2022

Potential bioavailability of pyrogenic organic matter resembles natural dissolved organic matter pools

Emily B. Graham, Hyun-Seob Song, Samantha Grieger, Vanessa Garayburu-Caruso, James Stegen, Kevin D. Bladon, and Allison Myers-Pigg

Abstract. Pyrogenic materials generated by wildfires are negatively impacting many aquatic ecosystems. At least ~10 % of dissolved organic matter (DOM) pools may be comprised of pyrogenic organic matter (PyOM) that is generally considered to be more refractory than DOM from other sources. However, there has been no systematic evaluation of bioavailability across a full spectrum of PyOM chemistries. We assessed the potential bioavailability of PyOM in relation to measured and globally ubiquitous DOM compounds using a substrate-explicit model to predict the energy content, metabolic efficiency, and aerobic decomposition of representative PyOM compounds. Overall, we found similar potential bioavailability between PyOM and sediment and surface water DOM. Predicted thermodynamics and carbon use efficiencies of PyOM and DOM were statistically indistinguishable. Within PyOM, phenols and black carbon (BC, defined by Wagner et al. (2017)) had lower metabolic efficiency than other PyOM and DOM compounds, and oxygen limitation had less impact on BC metabolism than on other PyOM classes. Our work supports the recent paradigm shift where PyOM bioavailability may be more comparable to natural organic matter than previously thought, highlighting its potential role in global C emissions and providing a basis for targeted laboratory investigations into the bioavailability of various PyOM chemistries.

Journal article(s) based on this preprint

18 Aug 2023
| BG Letters
| Highlight paper
Potential bioavailability of representative pyrogenic organic matter compounds in comparison to natural dissolved organic matter pools
Emily B. Graham, Hyun-Seob Song, Samantha Grieger, Vanessa A. Garayburu-Caruso, James C. Stegen, Kevin D. Bladon, and Allison N. Myers-Pigg
Biogeosciences, 20, 3449–3457, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-20-3449-2023,https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-20-3449-2023, 2023
Short summary Co-editor-in-chief

Emily B. Graham et al.

Interactive discussion

Status: closed

Comment types: AC – author | RC – referee | CC – community | EC – editor | CEC – chief editor | : Report abuse
  • RC1: 'Comment on egusphere-2022-194', Anonymous Referee #1, 11 Jul 2022
    • AC1: 'Reply on RC1', Emily Graham, 23 Nov 2022
  • RC2: 'Comment on egusphere-2022-194', Anonymous Referee #2, 26 Oct 2022
    • AC2: 'Reply on RC2', Emily Graham, 24 Nov 2022

Interactive discussion

Status: closed

Comment types: AC – author | RC – referee | CC – community | EC – editor | CEC – chief editor | : Report abuse
  • RC1: 'Comment on egusphere-2022-194', Anonymous Referee #1, 11 Jul 2022
    • AC1: 'Reply on RC1', Emily Graham, 23 Nov 2022
  • RC2: 'Comment on egusphere-2022-194', Anonymous Referee #2, 26 Oct 2022
    • AC2: 'Reply on RC2', Emily Graham, 24 Nov 2022

Peer review completion

AR: Author's response | RR: Referee report | ED: Editor decision | EF: Editorial file upload
ED: Reconsider after major revisions (15 Dec 2022) by Renata Libonati
ED: Reconsider after major revisions (19 Dec 2022) by Kirsten Thonicke (Co-editor-in-chief)
AR by Emily Graham on behalf of the Authors (06 Feb 2023)  Author's response   Author's tracked changes   Manuscript 
EF by Polina Shvedko (06 Feb 2023)  Supplement 
ED: Referee Nomination & Report Request started (03 Mar 2023) by Renata Libonati
RR by Anonymous Referee #1 (08 Mar 2023)
RR by Anonymous Referee #2 (12 Mar 2023)
ED: Publish subject to technical corrections (24 Mar 2023) by Renata Libonati
ED: Publish subject to technical corrections (13 Apr 2023) by Kirsten Thonicke (Co-editor-in-chief)
AR by Emily Graham on behalf of the Authors (19 Apr 2023)  Manuscript 

Journal article(s) based on this preprint

18 Aug 2023
| BG Letters
| Highlight paper
Potential bioavailability of representative pyrogenic organic matter compounds in comparison to natural dissolved organic matter pools
Emily B. Graham, Hyun-Seob Song, Samantha Grieger, Vanessa A. Garayburu-Caruso, James C. Stegen, Kevin D. Bladon, and Allison N. Myers-Pigg
Biogeosciences, 20, 3449–3457, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-20-3449-2023,https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-20-3449-2023, 2023
Short summary Co-editor-in-chief

Emily B. Graham et al.

Emily B. Graham et al.

Viewed

Total article views: 682 (including HTML, PDF, and XML)
HTML PDF XML Total Supplement BibTeX EndNote
489 172 21 682 44 11 12
  • HTML: 489
  • PDF: 172
  • XML: 21
  • Total: 682
  • Supplement: 44
  • BibTeX: 11
  • EndNote: 12
Views and downloads (calculated since 19 May 2022)
Cumulative views and downloads (calculated since 19 May 2022)

Viewed (geographical distribution)

Total article views: 613 (including HTML, PDF, and XML) Thereof 613 with geography defined and 0 with unknown origin.
Country # Views %
  • 1
1
 
 
 
 
Latest update: 07 Oct 2023
Download

The requested preprint has a corresponding peer-reviewed final revised paper. You are encouraged to refer to the final revised version.

Intensifying wildfire regimes in many parts of the world are increasing the production of pyrogenic organic matter (PyOM), with potential implications for water supplies that are critical for domestic, industrial, agricultural, and ecological needs. This study provides a novel assessment of the influence of PyOM on aquatic ecosystems and showed that PyOM can be actively transformed in aquatic ecosystems and may be an increasing source of C emissions to the atmosphere as the prevalence of wildfires increases.
Short summary
Intensifying wildfires are increasing pyrogenic organic matter (PyOM) production and its impact on water quality. Recent work indicates that PyOM may have greater impact on aquatic biogeochemistry than previously assumed, driven by higher bioavailability. We provide a full assessment of the potential bioavailability of PyOM across its chemical spectrum. We indicate that PyOM can be actively transformed within the river corridor, and therefore, may be a growing source of riverine C emissions.