Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Soil Microbial Ecology01:29

Soil Microbial Ecology

83
Soil microbial ecology is defined by highly diverse, spatially structured communities that drive nutrient cycling, organic matter turnover, and overall ecosystem stability. Although a gram of soil can contain thousands of bacterial and archaeal taxa, the ecological processes they mediate are even more crucial for sustaining terrestrial life.Microhabitats and NichesSoil is a heterogeneous mixture of minerals, organic matter, water, and air. Microbes inhabit distinct microhabitats formed by...
83
Microbial Mats01:25

Microbial Mats

67
Microbial communities forming biofilms and mats represent complex, spatially structured ecosystems where metabolic processes are stratified according to light, oxygen, and nutrient gradients. Biofilms are initial colonization stages, only a few millimeters thick, while mature microbial mats can reach centimeter-scale thickness and display intricate vertical organization. Their structural and functional heterogeneity allows microorganisms to occupy distinct ecological niches within a few...
67
Environmental Applications of Microorganisms01:30

Environmental Applications of Microorganisms

1.5K
Microorganisms play a pivotal role in maintaining ecosystem balance by recycling essential elements such as carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus, as well as supporting processes like bioremediation, wastewater treatment, and biofuel production.Microbes in Elemental CyclesIn the carbon cycle, microorganisms decompose organic matter, releasing carbon dioxide via aerobic respiration. This carbon dioxide is subsequently used by photosynthetic organisms to synthesize organic compounds, closing the...
1.5K
Carbon-dioxide Fixation01:28

Carbon-dioxide Fixation

873
Carbon dioxide fixation in prokaryotes enables the assimilation of inorganic carbon into organic molecules, supporting biosynthetic pathways, sustaining ecosystems, and contributing to the global carbon cycle. It also has industrial applications in carbon capture and bioproduct synthesis. Autotrophic organisms rely on this process to utilize CO₂ as a carbon source in diverse environments.The Calvin CycleThe Calvin cycle is the most widespread carbon fixation mechanism, primarily used by...
873
Microbial Corrosion01:24

Microbial Corrosion

93
Microbiologically Influenced Corrosion (MIC) is a significant form of material degradation caused by the metabolic activities of microorganisms. This phenomenon poses substantial challenges across various industries, including oil and gas, maritime, and water treatment sectors.MIC occurs when microorganisms, such as bacteria, archaea, and fungi, colonize metal surfaces, forming biofilms that alter the local electrochemical environment. These biofilms can lead to the production of corrosive...
93
The Roles of Bacteria and Fungi in Plant Nutrition02:11

The Roles of Bacteria and Fungi in Plant Nutrition

36.3K
Plants have the impressive ability to create their own food through photosynthesis. However, plants often require assistance from organisms in the soil to acquire the nutrients they need to function correctly. Both bacteria and fungi have evolved symbiotic relationships with plants that help the species to thrive in a wide variety of environments.
36.3K

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Elevated CO<sub>2</sub> and warming intensify plant reliance on soil nitrogen reserves despite intensive fertilization.

Nature communications·2026
Same author

From "synthetic" to defined microbial communities for clearer terminology.

Nature communications·2026
Same author

Provenance legacies override species effects in shaping oak rhizosphere microbiomes and metabolomes.

The New phytologist·2026
Same author

Global dataset of soil eukaryotic communities created with a uniform protocol and long read sequencing.

Scientific data·2026
Same author

Soil organic carbon sequestration over 50 years in resampled afforestation chronosequences on former cropland.

Journal of environmental management·2026
Same author

Adaptation to a host-associated lifestyle is associated with convergent loss of flagella-related genes in Pseudomonadota.

BMC genomics·2026

Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 4, 2026

Author Spotlight: Unraveling the Role of Earthworms in Enhancing Mineral Weathering for CO2 Removal
07:22

Author Spotlight: Unraveling the Role of Earthworms in Enhancing Mineral Weathering for CO2 Removal

Published on: November 10, 2023

4.0K

Submicron structures provide preferential spots for carbon and nitrogen sequestration in soils.

Cordula Vogel1, Carsten W Mueller1, Carmen Höschen1

  • 1Lehrstuhl für Bodenkunde, Department Ecology and Ecosystem Management, Center of Life and Food Sciences Weihenstephan, Technische Universität München, D-85350 Freising-Weihenstephan, Germany.

Nature Communications
|January 9, 2014
PubMed
Summary

Soil carbon sequestration is limited, as only a small fraction of clay surfaces bind organic matter (OM). New OM preferentially attaches to existing organo-mineral clusters, challenging current soil carbon storage estimates.

More Related Videos

Design and Operation of a Continuous 13C and 15N Labeling Chamber for Uniform or Differential, Metabolic and Structural, Plant Isotope Labeling
10:16

Design and Operation of a Continuous 13C and 15N Labeling Chamber for Uniform or Differential, Metabolic and Structural, Plant Isotope Labeling

Published on: January 16, 2014

25.1K
Combined Size and Density Fractionation of Soils for Investigations of Organo-Mineral Interactions
08:38

Combined Size and Density Fractionation of Soils for Investigations of Organo-Mineral Interactions

Published on: February 15, 2019

16.4K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 4, 2026

Author Spotlight: Unraveling the Role of Earthworms in Enhancing Mineral Weathering for CO2 Removal
07:22

Author Spotlight: Unraveling the Role of Earthworms in Enhancing Mineral Weathering for CO2 Removal

Published on: November 10, 2023

4.0K
Design and Operation of a Continuous 13C and 15N Labeling Chamber for Uniform or Differential, Metabolic and Structural, Plant Isotope Labeling
10:16

Design and Operation of a Continuous 13C and 15N Labeling Chamber for Uniform or Differential, Metabolic and Structural, Plant Isotope Labeling

Published on: January 16, 2014

25.1K
Combined Size and Density Fractionation of Soils for Investigations of Organo-Mineral Interactions
08:38

Combined Size and Density Fractionation of Soils for Investigations of Organo-Mineral Interactions

Published on: February 15, 2019

16.4K

Area of Science:

  • Soil Science
  • Environmental Science
  • Biogeochemistry

Background:

  • Soil organic matter (OM) sequestration is crucial for soil health and climate regulation.
  • Clay particles are known to bind OM, influencing soil carbon storage potential.
  • Current models often assume widespread OM binding to clay surfaces.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the actual proportion of clay-sized surfaces involved in organic matter binding.
  • To understand the preferential association of new organic matter with soil mineral components.
  • To re-evaluate the accuracy of soil carbon saturation estimates based on clay content.

Main Methods:

  • Incubation of sieved topsoil with isotopically labeled litter.
  • Nano-scale secondary ion mass spectrometry (NanoSIMS) for elemental and isotopic analysis.
  • Distinguishing between newly incorporated and pre-existing organic matter.

Main Results:

  • Only a small fraction (<19%) of visible clay-sized mineral surfaces actively bind organic matter.
  • Organic matter attachment is preferentially associated with organo-mineral clusters exhibiting rough surfaces.
  • Newly added organic matter shows a preference for binding to pre-existing organo-mineral complexes.

Conclusions:

  • The contribution of clay-sized surfaces to soil organic matter sequestration is more limited than previously assumed.
  • These findings necessitate a revision of current models for soil carbon sequestration and saturation potential.
  • This research offers a refined understanding of soil organic matter dynamics and storage mechanisms.