Terrestrial algae: pioneer organisms of carbonate rock solutional weathering in South China karst

Terrestrial algae significantly accelerate the weathering of carbonate rocks, contributing three times more to dissolution than non-algal processes. A study on two algal species, Klebsormidium dissectum and Chlorella vulgaris, found that while both induce solutional weathering with similar intensity, their modes differ, reflecting distinct ecological adaptations. The algae achieve this through higher carbonic anhydrase activity (CAA) and increased secretion of extracellular polysaccharides (EPS), which enhance rock weathering. This research provides quantitative evidence that terrestrial algae are pioneer organisms in karst ecosystems, offering new insights into soil formation processes in South China's karst regions.

Yan, N., Zhao, J., Xiong, K., Yang, C., Li, J., & Chen, Q. (2024). Terrestrial algae: pioneer organisms of carbonate rock solutional weathering in South China karst. Frontiers in Microbiology, 15. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2024.1329695