OPENAIRE OpenAire Sygma Bielefeld Academic Search Engine (BASE) HAL-INSU Recolector de Ciencia Abierta, RECOLECTA Crossref Microsoft Academic Graph Europe PubMed Central UnpayWall Digitala Vetenskapliga Arkivet - Academic Archive On-line Publikationer från Uppsala Universitet DIGITAL.CSIC HAL-CEA European Union Open Data Portal Trends in Ecology & Evolution Open Access 2020-11-06 2023-04-14 The global carbon cycle connects organic matter (OM) pools in soil, freshwater, and marine ecosystems with the atmosphere, thereby regulating their size and reactivity. Due to the complexity of biogeochemical processes and historically compartmentalized disciplines, ecosystem-specific conceptualizations of OM degradation have emerged independently of developments in other ecosystems. Recent discussions regarding the relative importance of molecular composition and ecosystem properties on OM degradation have diverged in opposing directions across subdisciplines, leaving our understanding inconsistent. Ecosystem-dependent theories are problematic since properties unique to an ecosystem may change in response to anthropogenic stressors, including climate change. The next breakthrough in our understanding of OM degradation requires a shift in focus towards developing a unified theory of controls on OM across ecosystems. 0301 basic medicine [CHIM.ANAL] Chemical Sciences/Analytical chemistry global carbon cycle [SDE.MCG]Environmental Sciences/Global Changes Climate Change Concept Formation soil Carbon Cycle Global carbon cycle Soil 03 medical and health sciences Freshwater [CHIM.ANAL]Chemical Sciences/Analytical chemistry [SDV.EE]Life Sciences [q-bio]/Ecology Dissolved organic matter 14. Life underwater degradation rates freshwater Ecosystem organic matter Degradation rates 0303 health sciences Marine marine biogeochemical cycles organic matter persistence dissolved organic matter 15. Life on land Miljövetenskap Biogeochemical cycles Carbon [SDE.BE] Environmental Sciences/Biodiversity and Ecology [SDE.MCG] Environmental Sciences/Global Changes [SDV.EE] Life Sciences [q-bio]/Ecology, environment Organic matter persistence 13. Climate action Organic matter [SDE.BE]Environmental Sciences/Biodiversity and Ecology environment Environmental Sciences Kothawala, Dolly, Kellerman, Anne, Catalán, Núria, Tranvik, Lars, 2021-02-01 journalpaper The global carbon cycle connects organic matter (OM) pools in soil, freshwater, and marine ecosystems with the atmosphere, thereby regulating their size and reactivity. Due to the complexity of biogeochemical processes and historically compartmentalized disciplines, ecosystem-specific conceptualizations of OM degradation have emerged independently of developments in other ecosystems. Recent discussions regarding the relative importance of molecular composition and ecosystem properties on OM degradation have diverged in opposing directions across subdisciplines, leaving our understanding inconsistent. Ecosystem-dependent theories are problematic since properties unique to an ecosystem may change in response to anthropogenic stressors, including climate change. The next breakthrough in our understanding of OM degradation requires a shift in focus towards developing a unified theory of controls on OM across ecosystems. Organic Matter Degradation across Ecosystem Boundaries: The Need for a Unified Conceptualization 10261/376885 https://doi.org/10261/376885 839709