A comprehensive review of climate warming and carbon dynamics in wetland ecosystems
Yingchao Guan, Jin Su, Zeyu Zhang, Shuying Chen, Yongchun Chen, Shijun Liu, Muxin Fan, Ying Ding, Xia Yuan
Abstract
Although covering only 5–8% of Earth's land surface, wetlands store 20–30% of terrestrial organic carbon, making them indispensable for achieving global carbon neutrality and sustainable development. As natural climate solutions, wetlands provide important ecological services, including carbon sequestration, water purification and biodiversity conservation. However, climate warming is altering wetlands structure and functions, particularly carbon cycling processes. These changes have profound consequences for plant growth, litter decomposition and overall carbon pools. Crucially, microbial communities, their functional traits, and carbon composition are key regulators of carbon dynamics, and the underlying mechanisms remain incompletely understood. In this review, we synthesize the effects of climate warming on carbon storage and cycling in wetland ecosystems, focusing on carbon input pathways, transformation processes, and shifts in carbon pool composition. We further explore the complex interactions between rising temperatures and wetland biogeochemical processes, discussing their implications for global carbon budgets and sustainable land management. A deeper understanding of these dynamics and mechanisms is crucial for preserving wetland carbon sequestration capacity and ensuring ecological resilience in a warming climate.