@article{4ff1166f-0bee-48d5-a1c0-b152612154e6,
  abstract     = {{<p>Increasing tree species diversity is known to enhance soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks, but its effect on SOC stability remains a critical uncertainty for climate mitigation. Through examination of a subtropical karst forest diversity gradient in southwest China, we reveal a fundamental shift in SOC stabilization mechanisms using physical fractionation, <sup>13</sup>C nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and metagenomic sequencing. Higher tree species diversity increased total SOC content but paradoxically decreased the ratio of mineral-associated to particulate organic carbon (MAOC:POC), a key metric traditionally linked to lower stability. This decrease, however, was accompanied by a critical reduction in SOC mineralization rate. Further analysis revealed that this enhanced persistence under high tree species diversity was associated with a trade-off between stabilization pathways. The role of traditional iron/aluminium oxide-mediated protection diminished, while two alternative mechanisms strengthened, that is (1) enhanced physical protection of POC through calcium carbonate aggregation, and (2) a profound shift in microbial ecology towards more efficient anabolism. Synthesis. This research demonstrates that tree species diversity actively reconfigures SOC stabilization pathways, emphasizing that ecosystem carbon persistence emerges from a dynamic interplay of physical, microbial and context-specific mineral controls. These findings suggest that managing for high species richness can enhance both the quantity and the resilience of forest carbon sinks, providing a robust nature-based solution for climate change mitigation.</p>}},
  author       = {{Duan, Pengpeng and Yang, Xinyi and Chen, Ji and Nottingham, Andrew T. and Domeignoz-Horta, Luiz A. and Hicks, Lettice C. and Yuan, Hongzhao and Du, Hu and Wang, Kelin and Li, Dejun}},
  issn         = {{0022-0477}},
  keywords     = {{calcium carbonate; microbial anabolism; mineralization rate; physical fractionation; soil organic carbon molecular evenness; soil organic carbon stability; tree species diversity}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{3}},
  publisher    = {{Wiley-Blackwell}},
  series       = {{Journal of Ecology}},
  title        = {{Tree species diversity influences soil carbon persistence by reconfiguring stabilization pathways}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/1365-2745.70288}},
  doi          = {{10.1111/1365-2745.70288}},
  volume       = {{114}},
  year         = {{2026}},
}