The specific molecular signature of dissolved organic matter extracted from different arctic plant species persists after biodegradation

Dissolved organic matter (DOM) is a small but very reactive pool of organic matter (OM) in the environment. Its role is related to its composition, which depends on its source. In soils, vegetation is the main source of DOM, and biodegradation is the main regulating mechanism. This study aims to characterise DOM produced by contrasted arctic vegetation species and their biodegradation products.

The water-extractable organic matter (WEOM) was produced from C. stellaris (lichen), E. vaginatum (sedge), A. polifolia (dwarf evergreen shrub) and B. nana (deciduous dwarf shrub). The WEOM were inoculated with a common aerobic heterotrophic soil bacteria (P. aureofaciens) and incubated for 7 days. During the experiment, WEOM was characterised through a wide range of analytical methods (TOC, UV–Vis absorbance, high-performance ion chromatography and HRMS Orbitrap).

The results showed bacteria consumed a significantly greater proportion of WEOM produced by C. stellaris than by A. polifolia and B. nana at the end of the experiment (p < 0.05). Furthermore, the number of features in WEOM decreased for C. stellaris and E. vaginatum, whereas it increased for B. nana. These findings shed light on the species-specific biodegradation processes that rely on the initial composition of DOM, specifically influenced by the vegetation's capacity to produce recalcitrant compounds. Furthermore, our results emphasised that even though bacterial activity greatly impacted molecular characteristics, the WEOM produced by different vegetation species maintained their distinct molecular signatures. As a result, it can be inferred that the DOM found in natural environments directly reflects the relevant vegetation cover despite the strong influence of biogeochemical processes on DOM molecular composition. This should be considered when developing models to assess the influence of climate change on vegetation cover composition and its subsequent effects on DOM dynamics in soil and surface waters.