Biogeochemical cycling of iron (hydr-)oxides and its impact on organic carbon turnover in coastal wetlands: A global synthesis and perspective

Coastal wetlands host large and dynamic reservoirs of organic carbon (C) and are also biogeochemical hotspots for a wide range of Fe (hydr-)oxides with different chemical reactivities, properties, and functions. The cycling of these iron (hydr-)oxides is closely coupled to that of organic C, which in turn strongly influences the magnitude and dynamics of organic C turnover in these ecosystems. This review synthesizes and summarizes current knowledge of distribution, turnover, and controls of Fe (hydr-)oxides, as well as their ecological roles and impacts on organic C turnover in coastal wetland ecosystems globally. Regional hydro-geochemical processes and anthropogenic activities in the uplands as well as soil texture exert a first-order control on the abundance and distribution of Fe (hydr-)oxides in coastal wetland soils, while the activities of plant roots and macro-organisms act as important biological drivers for the formation, transformation, and turnover of Fe (hydr-)oxides as well as associated organic C in both rhizosphere/burrows and bulk soils. The reported rates of dissimilatory Fe reduction (DFeR) are correlated with incubation temperature and the sizes of reactive Fe(III) phases. However, the contributions of DFeR to total anaerobic carbon oxidation were found to be correlated only with the size of reactive Fe(III) pools, meaning that all the identified processes contributing to the accumulation and formation of Fe hydroxides could increase the importance of the DFeR-dominated respiratory pathway and suppress sulfate reduction and methanogenesis. Additionally, Fe plaques dominated by amorphous Fe hydroxides are formed and cycled in close interaction with the activities of wetland plant roots, and likely provide several important ecological functions and contribute to maintaining high levels of plant productivity in coastal wetlands under different environmental stresses. The features and findings presented in this review not only contribute to an improved understanding of the biogeochemical cycle and ecological roles of Fe (hydr-)oxides in coastal wetlands, but also provide a basis for future studies on some highlighted key research areas. Such future studies will further increase our ability to understand and predict how the size, stability, and turnover of Fe (hydr-)oxides and organic C in coastal wetlands will respond to and affect global climate change.

Automated summary

Coastal wetlands are important reservoirs of organic carbon and various iron (hydr-)oxides, which are closely linked to the turnover of organic carbon in these ecosystems. The distribution of Fe (hydr-)oxides in coastal wetland soils is influenced by regional hydro-geochemical processes and anthropogenic activities, while the activities of plant roots and macro-organisms play a critical role in the formation and turnover of Fe (hydr-)oxides. The interaction between Fe plaques dominated by amorphous Fe hydroxides and wetland plant roots contributes to maintaining plant productivity in coastal wetlands under different environmental stresses.