Publications by authors named "R G Dahlgren"

, renowned for its ability to hyperaccumulate arsenic, presents a promising solution to the escalating issue of global soil arsenic contamination. This fern cultivates a unique underground microbial community to enhance its environmental adaptability. However, our understanding of the assembly process and the long-term ecological impacts of this community remains limited, hindering the development of effective soil remediation strategies.

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  • Iceland has experienced significant degradation of its native ecosystems and soils since the 9th century, with only 1.5% of land now covered by birch woodlands compared to 20-40% pre-settlement.
  • The study reveals that old birch woodlands in Iceland store an impressive average of 7.4 kg C per m² in the top 30 cm of soil, highlighting the potential for soil carbon sequestration through restoration efforts.
  • Birch woodland restoration is crucial for improving Iceland's carbon budget, with findings indicating that these efforts could potentially offset 20% of the current total CO₂ emissions in the country.
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  • * A study found that extracellular free viruses enhanced As mobilization with methane (CH) while MC-induced viruses suppressed it, and both types of viruses inhibited the oxidation of CH.
  • * The presence of extracellular free viruses increased Geobacter abundance, which elevated As(III) concentrations, while MC-induced viruses led to a reduction in As due to decreased Geobacter abundance, revealing the complex interplay between viruses and methane in soil ecosystems.
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  • Climate change is leading to more frequent and intense wildfires, particularly in areas experiencing prolonged summer droughts.
  • This study focused on how mercury (Hg) is transported in water from recently burned and unburned watersheds in northern California, analyzing its forms during storm events and normal flow.
  • Findings indicate that the aftermath of wildfires causes a temporary spike in suspended solids and mercury levels, linked primarily to ash deposits, but these levels decrease significantly with the rapid regrowth of vegetation over time.
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  • Global land-use changes influence the types and reactivity of dissolved organic matter (DOM) being transported from land to the ocean, particularly in areas affected by urban and agricultural activities.
  • Research on two coastal rivers in southeast China revealed that urban DOM is mainly composed of bio-labile, sulfur-rich compounds, while agricultural DOM has a mix of more stable compounds.
  • The study highlights how the time DOM spends traveling through watersheds affects its composition; longer transit leads to lower organic carbon flux and more resistant DOM, while shorter transit increases the export of more easily degradable DOM.
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