biogeochemical-cycles
Biogeochemical cycles describe the movement and transformation of essential chemical elements — such as carbon, nitrogen, and water — through living organisms, the atmosphere, soil, and oceans. Plants are central drivers of these cycles, capturing atmospheric carbon through photosynthesis, taking up soil nitrogen for growth, and regulating water movement through transpiration. Understanding how plants interact with and influence these cycles is fundamental to predicting ecosystem responses to climate change and managing agricultural and natural landscapes sustainably.
open_in_new WikipediaPubMed · 2026-05-05
Ocean microbes drive the planet's major chemical cycles and can break down pollutants, and scientists are mapping these microbial communities globally to unlock their potential for cleaning up contaminated coastlines and developing new biotechnologies.
Marine microbes account for the majority of ocean biomass and drive most of Earth's key biogeochemical cycles, including those that regulate global climate.
Decades of industrialization and urbanization have caused widespread ocean contamination, with pollutants accumulating especially in coastal sediments and posing documented risks to marine ecosystems and human health.
Effective microbial breakdown of pollutants depends on syntrophic (cooperative) interactions between different microbial species, meaning community collaboration—not single organisms—is the key to bioremediation.