Carbon cycling plays a crucial role in ecosystems, and microbes play a significant part in various aspects of carbon cycling, including the maintenance of temperature on Earth and the recycling of CO2 and CH4.

1. Role of Carbon Cycling in Ecosystems:

Carbon cycling refers to the movement of carbon atoms through various components of the Earth system, including the atmosphere, biosphere, hydrosphere, and geosphere. In ecosystems, carbon cycling is essential for the functioning and productivity of biological systems. It involves the uptake of carbon dioxide (CO2) by plants through photosynthesis, the transfer of carbon through food webs, and the release of carbon back into the atmosphere through respiration and decomposition.

2. Role of Microbes in Temperature Regulation:

Microbes, including bacteria and archaea, play a significant role in maintaining temperature on Earth through their involvement in biogeochemical cycles. One critical cycle is the nitrogen cycle, which includes processes such as nitrogen fixation, nitrification, denitrification, and ammonification. Microbes carry out these processes, which have implications for the release and consumption of greenhouse gases. By controlling the availability of nitrogen, microbes indirectly influence the production of greenhouse gases like nitrous oxide (N2O) and methane (CH4), which contribute to global warming.

3. Role of Microbes in CO2 Recycling:

Microbes contribute to the recycling of carbon dioxide (CO2) through various metabolic processes. For instance, photosynthetic bacteria and algae capture CO2 from the atmosphere and convert it into organic matter through photosynthesis. This process not only provides energy to the organisms but also removes CO2 from the atmosphere, mitigating its impact as a greenhouse gas.

Additionally, microbes are involved in the decomposition of organic matter, such as dead plants and animals, through microbial respiration. During this process, carbon stored in organic matter is released back into the atmosphere as CO2. However, some microbes, such as methanogenic archaea, can also convert organic carbon into methane (CH4), another potent greenhouse gas.

4. Role of Microbes in CH4 Recycling:

Methane (CH4) is produced and consumed by various microbial processes. Methanogenic archaea produce methane through a process called methanogenesis, which occurs in anaerobic environments such as wetlands, rice paddies, and the digestive systems of animals. Methanotrophic bacteria, on the other hand, consume methane as a source of energy and convert it back into CO2.

The balance between methane production and consumption by microbes is crucial for regulating atmospheric methane concentrations. Methane is a potent greenhouse gas, so the activity of methane-producing and methane-consuming microbes plays a vital role in controlling its impact on climate change.

In summary, carbon cycling is essential for the functioning of ecosystems, and microbes are key players in this process. They contribute to temperature regulation through their involvement in biogeochemical cycles and influence the recycling of carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane (CH4) through various metabolic processes. Understanding the roles of microbes in carbon cycling is crucial for addressing climate change and maintaining the balance of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.

See here : Article The role of soil microbes in the global carbon cycle: Tracki...

and here

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0048969723072558

Dr Mohannad Alobid thank you for your contribution to discussion

The Vital Link: Carbon Cycling in Ecosystems

Carbon cycling is the continuous journey of carbon atoms through the atmosphere, land, ocean, and living organisms. In ecosystems, it plays a crucial role in:

• Primary productivity: Plants, algae, and some bacteria use photosynthesis to capture carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and convert it into organic matter (like sugars and cellulose) - the foundation of life's energy flow.📷Opens in a new window📷en.wikipedia.orgPhotosynthesis process
• Nutrient cycling: As dead organisms decompose, microbes break down organic matter, releasing nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus back into the soil for other organisms to use. This decomposition also releases carbon dioxide back into the atmosphere.
• Climate regulation: Ecosystems act as carbon sinks, storing carbon in biomass and soil. Forests, in particular, are efficient carbon stores, with trees locking away vast amounts of carbon in their trunks, branches, and roots.

Microbial Masterminds: Maintaining Earth's Temperature

Microbes, the unseen heroes of the natural world, play a key role in maintaining Earth's temperature through their influence on carbon cycling:

• Methane munchers: Methanotrophic microbes in soil and oceans consume methane, a potent greenhouse gas 25 times more effective than carbon dioxide at trapping heat. By breaking down methane, these microbes prevent its harmful accumulation in the atmosphere.📷Opens in a new window📷www.methanotroph.orgMethanotrophic microbes
• Decomposition dynamos: Microbes in soil decompose organic matter, releasing carbon dioxide back into the atmosphere. This process, though contributing to the greenhouse effect, also releases nutrients for plant growth, thus promoting primary productivity and carbon capture.
• Thermostat regulators: The rate of microbial decomposition depends on temperature. In warmer environments, microbes decompose organic matter faster, releasing more carbon dioxide. However, this also increases plant growth and carbon capture, creating a feedback loop that can help regulate Earth's temperature.

Recycling Champions: Microbes and CO2 & CH4

Microbes are nature's recycling champions, playing a vital role in the breakdown and reuse of greenhouse gases:

• CO2 conversion: Certain microbes, like chemoautotrophs, use carbon dioxide as their sole carbon source for energy production. This process, known as chemosynthesis, helps remove CO2 from the atmosphere and converts it into organic matter.📷Opens in a new window📷vectormine.comChemosynthesis process
• Methane moderators: As mentioned earlier, methanotrophic microbes break down methane, preventing its harmful accumulation in the atmosphere. This helps mitigate the effects of methane emissions from sources like landfills, rice paddies, and natural gas leaks.

By understanding the intricate interplay between carbon cycling, microbes, and temperature regulation, we can gain valuable insights into maintaining a healthy planet. Protecting and fostering diverse microbial communities in ecosystems is crucial for ensuring the continued balance of our Earth's life-supporting systems.

Dr Murtadha Shukur thank you for your contribution to the discussion

The carbon returns to the atmosphere when the plants decay, are eaten and digested by animals, or burn in fires. Because plants and animals are an integral part of the carbon cycle, the carbon cycle is closely connected to ecosystems. As ecosystems change under a changing climate, the carbon cycle will also change. A carbon cycle process causes carbon to move from one reservoir to another. Processes in the forest carbon cycle game include photosynthesis, respiration, decomposition, ingestion, excretion, combustion, exudation, and diffusion. The main source of carbon available to most ecosystems is carbon dioxide. Carbon sources include emissions from burning fossil fuels, forest fires, and respiration. Carbon sinks include the oceans, plants, and soil. Typically, sources and sinks balance one another.As, the carbon emitted during respiration is offset by photosynthesis. Microorganisms in terrestrial, urban, and aquatic environments consume and generate important greenhouse gases, CO2, CH4, and N2O. Terrestrial microbes decompose organic matter, providing nutrients for plants and producing these three gases. Microbes are integral members of climate systems. They produce and consume greenhouse gases, their ecology is affected by environmental variables, and they can be engineered for the sustainable production of chemicals or applied in waste recycling. Microorganisms in terrestrial, urban, and aquatic environments consume and generate important greenhouse gases, CO2, CH4, and N2O. Terrestrial microbes decompose organic matter, providing nutrients for plants and producing these three gases. The concentration of methane in the atmosphere is ~4000-fold less than carbon dioxide, but its global warming potential is ~30 times greater. Methanogenic archaea are the only known microorganisms that produce methane, and these microbes can inhabit extreme conditions in the environment. Microbes play an important role in climate because they release carbon dioxide into the atmosphere when they eat. Bacteria and their main predators, protists, account for more than 40 times the biomass of all animals on Earth. As a result, they have a huge effect on carbon dioxide emissions. Some microbes produce and consume the three greenhouse gases that have contributed most to global warming: carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), and nitrous oxide (N2O) . Microbes can thus help accelerate or slow the rise in global temperatures.