About this Research Topic

Background

The Biogeochemistry field studies the role of elements cycling on biosphere; i.e. on how abiotic resources and biotic components interact through energy flow. Historically, biogeochemistry has contributed to the understanding of how life is affected by resources availability, how life affects resources availability and, for instance, its applications to food production. However, in the current global scenario, it is even more relevant to understand how living beings have been shaping several natural and built ecosystems and how these changes affect their functioning and their services. This paradigm is crucial to the future of the biosphere and life conservancy in the global climate change scenario. The tropical region presents higher temperatures and sunlight incidence which is known to intensify matter cycles and energy flow. Besides, this region holds great terrestrial and aquatic biodiversity and is subjected to several climatic changes.

It is of great relevance to have a better picture on how tropical ecosystems are playing their roles in the global biogeochemical cycles facing the changing climatic conditions. Thus, this research topic aims to highlight the recent advances in the study of biogeochemistry and nutrient cycles in tropical terrestrial, freshwater and marine ecosystems. It also aims to emphasize important directions, new paradigms and avenues to future inquiries. We anticipate the research presented will promote discussion in the biogeochemistry research community and translate the best practice applications in public and policy settings, as well as stimulating understanding and future research.

The collection welcomes a range of article types including Original Research, Review and Perspectives. The topics welcomed are (but not limited to) contributions on tropical:
- Biogeochemistry in terrestrial inland waters and marine environments;
- Nutrient cycles and anthropic interactions;
- Ecosystems impact on the global water and biogeochemical cycles;
- Biogeochemical processes from local to global scales;
- Food production in terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems;
- Global climate control;
- Greenhouse gases production, consumption and emission;
- Fluxes and dynamics of organic matter in terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems and across-ecosystems;
- Biogeochemical processes in novel ecosystems.

Keywords: nutrient, cycling, ecosystems functioning, trace elements, stable isotopes, carbon, nitrogen, phosphorous

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.

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