Publications by authors named "Alia Al-Haj"
Article Synopsis
- Patchy data on litter decomposition in wetlands limits understanding of carbon storage, prompting a global study involving over 180 wetlands across multiple countries and climates.
- The study found that freshwater wetlands and tidal marshes had more organic matter remaining after decay, indicating better potential for carbon preservation in these areas.
- Elevated temperatures positively affect the decomposition of resistant organic matter, with projections suggesting an increase in decay rates by 2050; however, the impact varies by ecosystem type and highlights the need to recognize both local and global factors influencing carbon storage.
Article Synopsis
- The global aquaculture industry, particularly oyster farming, influences coastal sediment ecosystems by altering resources available to microbes through their filter-feeding activities.
- Using a chronosequence approach over seven years, researchers observed changes in the composition and function of sediment microbial communities due to oyster farming practices.
- Findings revealed increased diversity and a shift towards anoxic tolerance in bacterial communities, but showed resilience to long-term change and no significant heavy metal accumulation, highlighting the need for sustainable aquaculture practices.
Vegetated coastal ecosystems (VCEs; i.e., mangroves, salt marshes, and seagrasses) play a critical role in global carbon (C) cycling, storing 10× more C than temperate forests.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAn amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFProduction of animal protein is associated with high greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Globally, oyster aquaculture is increasing as a way to meet growing demands for protein, yet its associated GHG-emissions are largely unknown. We quantified oyster aquaculture GHG-emissions from the three main constituents of GHG-release associated with terrestrial livestock production: fermentation in the animal gut, manure management, and fodder production.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMicroorganisms oxidize organic nitrogen to nitrate in a series of steps. Nitrite, an intermediate product, accumulates at the base of the sunlit layer in the subtropical ocean, forming a primary nitrite maximum, but can accumulate throughout the sunlit layer at higher latitudes. We model nitrifying chemoautotrophs in a marine ecosystem and demonstrate that microbial community interactions can explain the nitrite distributions.
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