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Published VersionCC BY V4.0, Open Access
Journal article
The synergy between Empodisma minus and microbial enzymes in carbon storage and nutrient turnover in the peatlands of K'gari (Fraser Island), Australia
Journal of Soils and Sediments, Vol.25, pp.2404-2419
2025
Appears in UniSC Supported Open Access Outputs
Abstract
Purpose
The peatlands of K’gari (Fraser Island), Australia, are vital subtropical ecosystems supporting biodiversity and carbon storage. This study examines how the abundance of Empodisma minus and fire frequency affect microbial enzyme activities, nutrient dynamics, and carbon sequestration. We hypothesize that intense wildfires and reduced E. minus cover slow down microbial processes, decreasing carbon storage, whereas the fire-adaptive nature of E. minus enhances resilience and carbon sequestration under moderate disturbances.
Materials and Methods
Peat cores were sampled with a Russian peat corer from three K’gari sites: Moon Point (90% E. minus), Dilli Swamp (55% E. minus), and Sandy Peat (20% E. minus). Triplicate cores per site were sectioned, with nutrient concentrations (C, N, P, S) assessed via dry combustion and microbial enzyme activities (β-glucosidase, N-acetyl-glucosaminidase, acid phosphatase, arylsulfatase) measured using microplate fluorescence. Physical properties (pH, redox potential, moisture) were recorded. Two-way ANOVA, principal component analysis, and Pearson’s correlations in R analysed variations across sites and depths.
Results and Discussion
The highest nutrient concentrations and microbial enzyme activities were observed in the surface peat layers (0–30 cm), declining significantly with depth. Dilli Swamp, characterized by moderate E. minus abundance and no intense wildfires since 2009 (but 7 planned ‘cool burns’ since 1980, most recently in 2016), exhibited the highest microbial activity and nutrient availability. In contrast, Moon Point, despite its higher E. minus cover, showed reduced microbial activity and nutrient levels due to recent (2020) intense fire disturbance (plus 4 other wildfires since 1960) which promoted dominance of fire-resistant E.minus by killing competitive plant species. Sandy Peat, with the lowest E. minus cover, demonstrated significantly lower organic carbon content and enzyme activity, indicating limited microbial function. Microbial enzyme activities positively correlated with moisture content, redox potential, and nutrient availability, reflecting their crucial roles in peatland nutrient cycling and carbon dynamics.
Conclusion
In this study, carbon storage capacity was linked to the microbial enzyme activity and their interactions with vegetation composition and fire disturbances. Moderate disturbances and optimal moisture conditions enhance microbial functioning, nutrient turnover, and carbon sequestration. Conservation must prioritize E. minus preservation and fire management with regular planned ‘cool’ burns to avoid intense wildfires which cause peat to catch fire, and to ensure dominance of E.minus and hence peatland resilience and carbon sink capacity.
Details
- Title
- The synergy between Empodisma minus and microbial enzymes in carbon storage and nutrient turnover in the peatlands of K'gari (Fraser Island), Australia
- Authors
- Zeinab Ghasemzadeh (Corresponding Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, School of Science, Technology and EngineeringSeyed Sajjad Hossein - Ferdowsi University of MashhadDavid Chittleborough - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, School of Science, Technology and EngineeringCatherine Yule - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, School of Science, Technology and EngineeringIroshaka Gregory Cooray - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, School of Science, Technology and EngineeringDarshanaa Chellaiah - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, School of Science, Technology and EngineeringMohammad Katouli - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Centre for BioinnovationGareth R L Chalmers (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, School of Science, Technology and Engineering
- Publication details
- Journal of Soils and Sediments, Vol.25, pp.2404-2419
- Publisher
- Springer
- Date published
- 2025
- DOI
- 10.1007/s11368-025-04093-9
- ISSN
- 1614-7480; 1439-0108
- Copyright note
- This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, which permits use, sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons licence, and indicate if changes were made. The images or other third party material in this article are included in the article's Creative Commons licence, unless indicated otherwise in a credit line to the material. If material is not included in the article's Creative Commons licence and your intended use is not permitted by statutory regulation or exceeds the permitted use, you will need to obtain permission directly from the copyright holder. To view a copy of this licence, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/.
- Data Availability
- All data generated or analyzed during this study are included in this published article and its supplementary material.
- Grant note
- The authors would like to thank UniSC Office of Research & Engagement for the internal “Launch” grant that provided the funding to begin our investigations on K’gari.
- Organisation Unit
- School of Science, Technology and Engineering; Centre for Bioinnovation; Sustainability Research Cluster
- Language
- English
- Record Identifier
- 991144234502621
- Output Type
- Journal article
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