Isolation and characterization of Lignin-derived monomer degraders under acidic conditions from tropical peatland.

Tropical peatlands account for one of the largest carbon stores in the form of organic matter due to the accumulation of plant litter and waterlogged conditions. Recent anthropogenic disturbances, such as forest fires, agricultural conversion and drainage, in tropical peatlands have caused a vast amount of carbon to be released into the atmosphere, and microbial activities are impacted by these changes. A recent study showed that many phenol- and lignin-degrading bacteria prefer alkaline and neutral pH conditions, while tropical peatland conditions are acidic, possibly changing the mechanisms of the utilization of organic matter from peat soil.