{"id":865,"date":"2026-08-06T15:32:25","date_gmt":"2026-08-06T19:32:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sciences.ucf.edu\/biology\/abl\/?page_id=865"},"modified":"2026-08-12T11:48:05","modified_gmt":"2026-08-12T15:48:05","slug":"soil-carbon-stability","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/sciences.ucf.edu\/biology\/abl\/soil-carbon-stability\/","title":{"rendered":"Soil Carbon Stability"},"content":{"rendered":"

Wetlands and coastal ecosystems are among the planet\u2019s most effective natural carbon sinks<\/strong>. These ecosystems help mitigate climate change by storing large quantities of carbon in their soils. Our research asks a critical question: How vulnerable is this stored carbon when environmental conditions such as temperature, vegetation, or hydrology change?<\/em><\/p>\n

Historically, scientists have explained long-term carbon storage using two ideas: (1) waterlogged, oxygen-poor conditions that slow decomposition and (2) the chemical composition of organic matter. Together, these factors help determine how long carbon remains stored in wetland soils.<\/p>\n

The ABL is helping advance a newer understanding of carbon storage through a stabilization mechanism known as mineral-associated organic matter (MAOM). Research suggests that carbon bound to soil minerals is better protected from decomposition and may remain stored even when environmental conditions change.<\/p>\n

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Projects on soil carbon stability:<\/h2>\n
1.\u00a0<\/strong>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Evaluating Mineral Associated Blue Carbon Accumulation in Coastal Wetlands (2021-2026)<\/strong><\/h5>\n

Funded by: US Army Corps of Engineers, Research and Development Center<\/em><\/p>\n\n\t\t